Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek, competing at the Internazionali d’Italia in Rome, have expressed their fascination with the impending election of a new Pope at the Vatican.
Though not a practicing Catholic, Gauff is intrigued by the historic nature of the event happening just a few kilometers away. “I would go because I feel like it’s an historic thing,” she commented, adding that learning about the `white smoke` ritual signalling a new Pope was “cool” and something she`d like to see firsthand.
The process to select the next Pope, the fourth this century, is set to begin. 133 cardinals will gather and cast ballots up to four times daily until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority, requiring at least 90 votes.
Traditionally, the successful election is announced by white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney, followed by the declaration “Habemus Papam” (“We have a Pope”).
Gauff found the smoke signal particularly interesting after learning about the conclave process.
Iga Swiatek is also eager to witness the event, calling it an experience she would love to have, though she expects significant crowds and acknowledges the uncertainty of when the election will conclude. “We don’t know when it’s going to happen, right? Might be couple months,” she noted.
The text highlights Italian interest in the election and lists some betting favorites for the papacy: Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy), Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines), and Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana). Parolin, currently the Vatican Secretary of State, is characterized as a seasoned diplomat with a pragmatic style favored by centrists.
