The Vatican is buzzing with an unusual energy.  The guesthouse is packed with cardinals from all over the world.  Many of these cardinals have never met before.  They are wearing name tags to help each other remember who is who.  This is not the usual scene.  The daily meetings have turned into quick, intense discussions about faith and church matters.  It is like a big theological meet-and-greet.

Cardinal Anders Arborelius from Sweden is one of the many cardinals feeling a bit out of place.  He has been spending his days in a crowded lecture hall.  He is getting to know the many new cardinals appointed by Pope Francis.  These cardinals come from places that have never had a cardinal before.  For example, there is a cardinal from Mali who vanished after the first day.  Another cardinal from Laos has not been seen for many days.  Cardinal Arborelius admits he often feels lost in this new environment.

Starting on Wednesday afternoon, these cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel.  They will vote for the next pope under the watchful eyes of Michelangelo's frescoes.  This is a tradition that has been happening for centuries.  It is one of the oldest rituals in the world.  The cardinals will be in seclusion while they make this important decision.  The world will wait to see who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church.

The Vatican is a place of deep history and tradition.  This gathering of cardinals is a reminder of how the church is always changing.  New faces and new voices are part of this ancient institution.  It is a time of both continuity and change.  The cardinals will carry on the traditions of the past.  At the same time, they will bring new ideas and perspectives to the table.  This is a unique moment in the history of the Vatican.  It is a time of both old and new.  The world watches and waits to see what will happen next.

The Unusual Gathering of Cardinals

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