Every corner of the Vatican is steeped in centuries of faith, tradition, and sacred beauty—but perhaps nowhere more so than the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals of the Catholic Church will soon gather in prayer and discernment to elect the next pope. The conclave, beginning May 7, follows the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. As Catholics around the world mourn, the Church prepares to choose his successor through a process “shrouded in secrecy,” as described in a recent USA Today feature.
The choice of a new pope is a profound moment in the life of the Church—not just an election, but a solemn invocation of the Holy Spirit. What makes this sacred event so striking is the setting in which it unfolds: the Sistine Chapel, “renowned for its extensive Renaissance art collection by some of the world’s most famous artists,” according to USA Today. While the outer walls of the chapel are plain, the inside is anything but.
Pope Sixtus IV commissioned the structure in the 15th century, but it was his successor, Pope Julius II, who called upon Michelangelo to paint what would become some of the most iconic masterpieces in the world. Between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo painted the chapel ceiling, including the famous “Creation of Adam,” whose nearly touching fingers “symbolize the creation of the first man.” Later, between 1534 and 1541, he added The Last Judgment on the west wall—a monumental depiction of Christ’s Second Coming, described as “one of the greatest achievements in Western artistic history.”
It is in this awe-inspiring space, surrounded by the stories of Genesis and the final judgment of souls, that the cardinals will vote in secret to elect the next Bishop of Rome. According to the Vatican, about 135 cardinals will be in attendance. They will cast ballots up to four times per day—two in the morning and two in the afternoon—until one man receives a two-thirds majority. Then, from a small chimney outside the chapel, white smoke will rise, signaling “Habemus Papam”—“We have a pope.”
While the Sistine Chapel is always spiritually significant, this moment is also deeply symbolic. The cardinals—cloistered in silence—are literally surrounded by God’s creative power and final judgment, underscoring the gravity of their decision. As one Vatican guide told USA Today, “For inspiration, the cardinals can look at the sweeping frescoes from renowned Renaissance artists.”
Thanks to popular culture, more people today understand the conclave’s sacred drama. The 2016 book Conclave by Robert Harris and its 2024 film adaptation have introduced global audiences to the rituals inside the Sistine Chapel. Screenwriter Peter Straughan shared that while researching for the film, “We were given a private tour of the Vatican, and they were quite welcoming, actually, quite helpful… It’s a fascinating and theatrical world, so you want to get those details right.”
But for Catholics, the conclave is not theater—it is theology in action. It is the moment the Church humbly seeks God’s guidance for the future. As the College of Cardinals gathers under the eyes of the saints and angels depicted in fresco, they take an oath of secrecy, commit themselves to prayer, and entrust the Church’s next chapter to the Holy Spirit.
We are reminded that the Church is both visible and spiritual, temporal and eternal. And in this holy moment, we pray that those entrusted with choosing the next pope do so with wisdom, humility, and deep love for Christ and His Church.
Sources: USA TODAY, Vatican News
