Pakistan’s Cardinal Joseph Coutts to help elect new Pope at Vatican

Karachi: In a historic moment for Pakistan, Cardinal Joseph Coutts will participate in the election of the new Pope following the death of Pope Francis.

Cardinal Coutts, who previously served as the Archbishop of Karachi, is among 135 Cardinals from around the world gathering in Vatican City to take part in this sacred process.

The Roman Catholic Church has announced that the election will take place after Pope Francis’s funeral. According to Vatican sources, Pope Francis had continued his duties until his final days, despite a long-standing lung illness. He even addressed the faithful with an Easter message before his passing.

Cardinal Coutts shared that the election will be conducted in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy. Only Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Each Cardinal takes an oath of confidentiality and casts a secret ballot.

Voting continues until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority. After each voting round, the ballots are burned using special chemicals to produce smoke visible to the public in St. Peter’s Square. Black smoke indicates no decision has been reached, while white smoke signals the successful election of a new Pope.

This process, known as a “conclave,” is steeped in tradition and symbolism, and Cardinal Coutts’s participation marks a proud moment for the Pakistani Christian community.