A day of consultations of cardinals began in Rome this morning, a week before the start of the conclave on May 7th, at which the new head of the Roman Catholic Church will be elected, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21st.
"The atmosphere is very calm, it is a moment for dialogue," Colombian Cardinal Jorge Enrique Imenes Carvajal said today.
He added that the dialogue is broad and open, stating that the conclave "does not talk about pressure, polarization or manipulation."
"We listen to each other, and everyone will decide before God," the cardinal said.
Every morning, about 200 "princes of the Church," some of whom have never met before, gather in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican for general congregations, closed-door meetings where they discuss priorities for the future of the 2.000-year-old institution.
Among them, 133 cardinals, under the age of 80, will participate in the conclave, and two cardinals have announced their absence for health reasons.
The atmosphere is "familial, friendly and respectful," Argentine Cardinal Angel Sixto Rossi told reporters.
"We are listening to people we may have never heard before, and that gives us guidance," said Spanish Cardinal Cristobal Lopes Romero, Archbishop of Rabat.
The conclave will require a two-thirds majority to elect a pope, whose name will then be announced in the "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and the People) message.
When asked about the possible duration of the conclave, Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez mentioned that it would last "at most three days."
Regarding the likelihood of a consensus on continuity with Pope Francis, the Salvadoran cardinal said that this is what he feels and what is perceived in the atmosphere.
Pope Francis died at the age of 89 on Easter Monday, April 21, and was buried on Saturday in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
Bonus video:
