The Conclave to elect a new Pope will officially begin on Wednesday, May 7, after the conclusion of the requiem cycle for Pope Francis. Last Sunday, tens of thousands of faithful continued to pay tribute to the late Pontiff, attending the Mass for the Jubilee of Teenagers at St. Peter's and visiting his tomb at St. Mary Major with roses and prayers. The calendar of celebrations calls for the 5th General Congregation of Cardinals to take place between May 5 and 10, or between May 6 and 11, depending on whether it is counted from the day after his death. The final date of the Conclave was set by the cardinals, who will meet each morning at 9 a.m. for congregations and in the afternoon at 5 p.m. for Novendiali Masses in the Vatican Basilica. The 9-day cycle of prayers, which began with the Exequial Mass presided over by Cardinal Dean Giovanni Battista Re, will conclude on Sunday, May 4. After that, the possible entry into the Sistine Chapel and the imposition of the “extra omnes” will officially kick off the Conclave. The 135 cardinal electors (134, considering the absence for health reasons of Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera of Valencia) are already gathering in Rome. Despite his absence from the election, the influence of cardinal non-electors, that is, members over the age of 80, will be crucial in guiding alliances and consensus, playing a key role in voting dynamics. Among them, 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, is one of the most prominent figures. Among the Italians, one waits to see how much former presidents of the CEI such as Camillo Ruini and Angelo Bagnasco can affect them. Foreign cardinals who, while not participating in the Conclave, could have a strong impact include Sean Patrick O'Malley of Boston, a leading proponent of the fight against sexual abuse; Christoph Schoenborn of Vienna, a renowned theologian and former student of Joseph Ratzinger; and Marc Ouellet, former prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and an influential figure in Latin America.