The 57-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) played a minor role as an Asian cardinal in the controversial 2024 film Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes. The film has experienced a resurgence on streaming platforms and at the box office following the death of Pope Francis and the start of the process to elect his successor.
The process itself, as outlined by the apostolic constitution, is elaborate and systematic. In the “scrutiny” or balloting phase, individual cardinal electors must put their ballots in the assigned receptacles placed before the altar of Sistine Chapel, while reciting the oath aloud: “I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected.”
False claims of Pope Francis’ supposed endorsement of former president Rodrigo Duterte remained on social media, potentially spreading anew with the pontiff’s passing on April 21 and the latter’s detention by the International Criminal Court.
Some Facebook users have been sharing a fake photo of the alleged new pope ahead of the conclave at the Vatican.
As the cardinals of the Catholic Church prepare to head into the conclave that will select the 266th successor of St. Peter, here are some interesting facts and figures related to the Sacred College.
Thousands are expected to troop to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. The Vatican is not only the global center of Catholicism, it is also a sovereign state with the pope recognized as both head of state and government. The Holy See has a permanent observer mission to the United Nations.
