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JUST IN: All 133 Catholic cardinals arrive in Rome ahead of conclave to elect new Pope
All 133 Catholic cardinals eligible to vote for a new pope have arrived in Rome, the Vatican confirmed today, ahead of the conclave beginning this week.
They will enter into seclusion in the Sistine Chapel at 4:30 pm (1430 GMT) on Wednesday, voting in secret until one of them secures the required two-thirds majority to become the next head of the Roman Catholic Church, reports AFP.
Summoned following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, the group — representing 70 countries across five continents — is the largest and most diverse conclave in the Church’s history.
At stake is the direction of the Catholic Church, a 2,000-year-old institution with huge global influence but which is battling to adapt to the modern world and recover its reputation after the scandal of widespread child sex abuse by priests.
The 133 so-called “Princes of the Church” who will vote — all those aged under 80, minus two who are absent for health reasons — will gather on Wednesday afternoon under the frescoed splendour of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.
Voting once that day and four times a day thereafter until a pope is chosen, they will stay at the nearby Santa Marta guesthouse but are forbidden from contacting the outside world until they have made their choice.
They will inform the waiting world of their progress by burning their ballots and sending up smoke — black if no candidate has reached the two-thirds majority of votes, or white if they have a winner.
This morning, technicians installed red curtains on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, where the new pontiff will make his first appearance.
At issue is whether the new pontiff will follow the popular Argentine pontiff’s progressive line or whether the Holy See will pivot towards a more conservative traditionalist leader.
Francis, an energetic reformer from Buenos Aires, ran the Church for 12 years and appointed 80 percent of the current cardinal electors.
But experts caution they may not choose someone in his model, with many warning there could be surprises.
Vatican affairs specialist Marco Politi told our correspondent that, given the unknowns, the conclave could be “the most spectacular in 50 years”.
‘Calm The Waters’
Cardinals met this morning for the latest in a series of preparatory meetings, so-called general congregations, and will gather again in the afternoon.
All cardinals are invited to these, not just those eligible to vote in the conclave, taking the opportunity to discuss the issues that will face Francis’s successor.
“Nobody campaigns, for crying out loud. That would be extraordinarily stupid and indiscreet, and improper and counterproductive,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York.
“But you just want to get to know folks, and it works well,” he said on his own podcast.
Among the pilgrims and sightseers who gathered in the square on Monday, opinions varied widely about who could or should take over.
“Maybe more of Pope Francis than Pope Benedict,” said German visitor Aurelius Lie, 36.“
As long as he’s not too conservative (and) influenced by modern political leaders — (Giorgia) Meloni, (Donald) Trump,” he said, referring to the Italian prime minister and the US president.
“Maybe the Church will be thinking: ‘We need a tough pope now to deal with these people.’ But their terms will end in a couple of years.
”But Canadian priest Justin Pulikunnel did not hide his frustration at the direction Francis tried to take the Church, saying he personally sought a return to a more traditional leadership.
“Well, I hope and I pray that the new pope will kind of be a source of unity in the Church and kind of calm the waters down after almost a dozen years of destabilisation and ambiguity,” he said yesterday.
“Changing World’
The conclave begins on Wednesday afternoon and could continue for days, weeks or even months — although both Francis and Benedict XVI — who was pope from 2005 until his resignation in 2013 — were elected within two days.
Italy’s Pietro Parolin, who was secretary of state under Francis, is one of the favourites, as is Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Among the so-called “papabili” are also Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines and Hungarian conservative Peter Erdo.
But many more names have been discussed, and just like when Francis — then an Argentinian known as Jorge Bergoglio — was picked in 2013, a surprise candidate could emerge.
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako of Iraq told reporters before today’s meetings that he wanted “a pastor, a father who preserves the unity of the Church and the integrity of the faith but who also knows the challenges of today”.
“The world is always changing. Every day there is news. The Pope must read the signs of the times to have the right answer and not be closeted in his palace.”
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) will hold its 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu, on September 24 and 25.
The flagship annual gathering is expected to attract more than 500 editors from across the country and distinguished guests to discuss critical national and global issues with social, economic and political implications. It comes ahead of the 2027 general election.
The theme is “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” with the sub-theme “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.” His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, will chair the conference.
Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony on September 24 from 2pm. Prof. Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, will speak on “Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability.” Enugu State Governor Dr. Peter Mbah will also address the conference.
Ombudsman and Public Protector of ThisDay Newspapers, Kayode Komolafe, and veteran journalist and civil rights campaigner Owei Lakemfa will jointly present on “Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists.”
On September 25, immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, will speak at 9am on “Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.” Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, will address “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance.” Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, Dr. Richard Okoye, will speak on “The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Wellbeing.”
Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA, Prof. Farooq A. Kperogi, will examine the sub-theme on detecting and debunking AI disinformation around elections.
An Executive Session is scheduled for 12:30pm on the second day, during which editors will engage governors, political party leaders and heads of government agencies on issues of national importance.
According to a statement by NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the conference will provide a platform for editors and stakeholders to examine pathways for advancing democratic governance, promoting national development and strengthening nation-building through responsible journalism. It will also allow media leaders to interrogate challenges facing democracy and the media’s role in safeguarding credible elections, public trust and democratic values.
President Bola Tinubu has constituted the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections, with himself as chairman and Vice President Kashim Shettima as vice chairman.
According to a State House statement released on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), former Zamfara State governor Senator Abdulaziz Yari will serve as Director-General of the campaign. Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State is the secretary.
APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda will also serve as vice chairman. National Secretary Senator Ajibola Bashiru and Hadiza Bala-Usman are deputy and assistant secretaries respectively.
The council’s body of advisers includes Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni have been named deputy directors-general for the South and North. They will work with Senators Bamidele Opeyemi and Jibril Barau in the two zones.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole is deputy director-general in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff is deputy director-general for administration. James Abiodun Faleke returns as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring.
Zonal directors under Faleke are: Senator Olushola Adeyeye (South West), Dr Ngozi Olejeme (South South), Senator Uche Ekwunife (South East), Muntaqha Rabe (North West), Ahmed Muhammed Ketso (North Central) and Senator Sani Danladi (North East). Stella Okotete, Engineer Abdullahi Garba Ramat and Audu Maikori are secretaries of the election planning directorate.
Muiz Adeyemi Banire heads the legal directorate, with Dr Liman Hassan and Babatunde Ogala as deputies. Other members include Prince Lateef Fagbemi, former governor Ibrahim Shema, Worgu Boms and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris Malagi will coordinate the media and strategic communication directorate alongside Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu. Coordinating deputy directors are Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka. Abdulaziz AbdulAziz, Temitope Ajayi, Arabinrin Aderonke and Frederick Nwabufor are coordinating secretaries, while Segun Dada returns as Director of New Media with Solomon Arowolo as secretary.
Five spokespersons, led by Dele Alake, have also been appointed: Alwan Hassan, Ayobami Oyalowo, Kemi Asekun-Shittu and Adamu Fanda.
President Tinubu charged members of the council to work tirelessly for the party’s victory in the January 2027 elections and urged directors to involve other party members not formally listed.
“We have delivered on our campaign promises and set our country on a path of economic progress. We are definitely out of the dark tunnel and are now at the cusp of reaping the benefits of a prosperous economy that will benefit all Nigerians.
As we march into the campaign season, we have many achievements to trumpet—let us confidently showcase our record and inspire hope in every corner of our nation. Let us soundly defeat all those forces who plan to take our country backwards,” the President said.
President Tinubu Orders Arrests, Suspends Permanent Secretaries
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered another fake agency operating from within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the illegal entity was discovered during an ongoing probe into fraudulent government structures. The so-called agency allegedly functioned under the cover of the SGF’s office, raising serious questions about internal oversight and possible collusion by senior civil servants.
In a swift response, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate arrest of all individuals linked to the fake agency. The President has also directed the suspension of the Permanent Secretaries connected to the matter pending the conclusion of full investigations.
The development marks another high-profile case of institutional fraud being exposed by the ICPC within the Federal Civil Service. Officials say further details of the operation and the identities of those involved are expected to be made public as the probe intensifies.
The Presidency has described the discovery as “unacceptable” and vowed that those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
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