Syndication: The Record
(Vatican City) — One of Pope Francis’ final wishes was to convert his popemobile into a mobile health vehicle for the children of Gaza. Francis expressed his concern over the war between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza, noting that children are the first ones to pay the price of conflict. Nearly a million children have been displaced in Gaza. The popemobile will now be set up with diagnostic equipment and life-saving supplies, staffed by doctors who will take it into Gaza.
Meanwhile, Catholic cardinals from around the world are making final preparations to select a successor to Pope Francis through a secret process known as a conclave. Once the conclave begins on Wednesday, the 133 cardinals taking part in the election will remain behind closed doors in the Sistine chapel until a candidate for pope receives a two-thirds majority vote. After each vote, cardinals will burn the ballots and send up black smoke from a chimney. But when the new pope is finally chosen, they will release white smoke. Conclaves have historically lasted about four days.
