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All To Know Ahead Of Conclave To Elect New Pope

Published

2 months ago

April 29, 2025

Cardinals from around the world will meet under Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church after Pope Francis’s death.

Dating back to the Middle Ages — when the idea of sovereigns being elected was somewhat revolutionary — the gathering, known as a conclave, has an air of mystery about it, as all participants are sworn to secrecy for life.

Here is what we know about the process:

•⁠ ⁠Where and when –

On Monday May 5, two days before the conclave, officials and staff taking part in the conclave will gather at 5:30 pm (1530 GMT) to sign an oath of secrecy.

The day itself, Wednesday May 7, will begin with a special mass at 10:00 am in St Peter’s Basilica.

The conclave begins at 4:30 pm following a prayer in the Vatican’s Pauline Chapel.

Cardinals will walk in procession to the Sistine Chapel before taking their oath of secrecy.

The conclave will last until a new pontiff is elected.

Cardinals wear different garments depending on whether they are from the Latin or Eastern churches.

Those in the Latin Church will don a “red robe with sash, rochet, mozzetta, pectoral cross with red and gold cord, ring, zucchetto (cap) and biretta”, while those in the Eastern Church wear their “own choir dress”, the Vatican said.

Each cardinal will wear an accreditation badge around his neck to help identify them as electors.

While it took almost three years to appoint Pope Gregory X in the 13th century — the longest conclave to date — modern gatherings are usually a matter of days.

Both Francis and his predecessor, Benedict XVI, were elected after two days of voting.

•⁠ ⁠Who takes part –

Only 133 of the Church’s 252 cardinals are expected to take part in the conclave, as only those aged under 80 are eligible to vote for a new pope.

There are 135 eligible voters but the Vatican announced on Tuesday that two cardinals had dropped out for health reasons.

The archdiocese of Valencia in Spain confirmed to AFP that its archbishop emeritus, Cardinal Antonio Canizares was one of those who would not attend.

Most of those — around 80 percent — allowed to vote were appointed by Francis. They hail from all corners of the globe, with many from under-represented regions.

•⁠ ⁠Secrecy and security –

The word conclave comes from the Latin for “with key”, a reference to the lockdown imposed on cardinals during the conclave.

Their deliberations are held in the strictest secrecy on pain of instant excommunication. Smartphones and any internet access are off-limits and cardinals cannot read newspapers, listen to the radio or watch TV.

The cardinals stay in the Santa Marta residence at the Vatican until they elect a new pope.

Any contact with the outside world is permitted only for “grave and urgent reasons”, which need to be confirmed by a panel of four peers.

Only cardinal electors are allowed to be present during the actual voting, although others including doctors, clerical assistants and housekeeping staff are authorised to enter at different times.

•⁠ ⁠How voting unfolds –

Cardinals hold four ballots a day — two each in the morning and afternoon — until one candidate wins two-thirds of the votes, currently 89 ballots.

At the end of each session, the ballots are burned in a special stove. With the addition of chemicals, the stove’s chimney stack emits black smoke if no one has been elected, or white smoke if there is a new pope.

If no new pope is elected after three days, cardinals take a break and hold a day of prayer and talks.

Any single Catholic adult male can be elected pope, although in practice it is almost always one of the cardinals.

Sick cardinals are allowed to cast their ballots from their beds within the Vatican.

•⁠ ⁠What happens next –

The winning candidate is asked by the Dean of Cardinals if he accepts the pontificate and, if the answer is ‘yes’, what name he chooses as pontiff.

He then retreats to a room known as the Room of Tears to put on the papal garb — three sizes of which have been left there in advance.

The new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics then comes out onto a balcony overlooking the crowds in St Peter’s Square as a senior cardinal cries: “Habemus Papam” (We have a pope)!

AFP

Headline

Africa Loses $7bn Annually On Medical Tourism – Afreximbank

Published

2 minutes ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) says Nigeria and other African nations are losing billions of dollars annually to medical tourism.

Afreximbank’s Export Development Managing Director, Mrs Oluranti Doherty, made the assertion while speaking at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2025) in Abuja on Thursday.

Doherty said the trend was hindering economic development and local healthcare infrastructure.

She identified the soaring costs of medical tourism as a major drain on African economies.

According to her, Nigeria alone loses an estimated $1.1 billion annually to medical tourism, while the entire African continent collectively forfeits approximately $7 billion yearly.

“We had our member countries losing a lot of foreign exchange to medical tourism.

“We just talked about Nigeria, where our medical tourism annually is about $1.1 billion.

“The entire continent is about $7 billion just because we can’t help ourselves with ourselves when we come up with chronic diseases.

“ That’s money that’s going to other economies, building up their institutions,” she said.

She noted that the capital outflow diverts funds that could be invested in local healthcare.

Doherty added that the development contributes to a “brain drain” of skilled medical professionals from the continent.

“Another thing we noted was a great way we were losing a lot of our good talents.
“The best of talents in the health sector were going out of the continent, working in places such as India, Asia, Middle East, America, and that often was an issue,” she said.

Doherty said the bank launched its Health and Medical Tourism Programme in 2012 long before the broader recognition of healthcare’s connection to economic security in response to the challenge.

“Afreximbank was innovative. I call us the innovative financier, innovative investors.

“We recognised this part since 2012 and we set about doing something about it.

“A key initiative borne from this foresight is the Africa Medical Center of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, a 170-bed facility boasting state-of-the-art equipment, including an 18 MeV cyclotron, a three-Tesla MRI, and a 20-bed ICU.

“Afreximbank has invested over $450 million to establish and scale up this project,” she said.

The official praised the leadership behind the AMCE, noting, “Afreximbank had to go where no one has gone before; Afreximbank’s leaders adhered to the dreamers.

“The AMCE aims to provide healthcare services comparable to global standards, not just African standards.

“I’m talking about global standard. I’m talking about Africans coming up with solutions to challenge,” she said.

She, however, stressed the need to build trust in local healthcare facilities and ensure access for all to stem medical tourism.

Headline

Court Remands Teacher Over Alleged Sexual Assault On 2 Pupils

Published

16 minutes ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded a 27-year-old teacher, Wisdom Anokwuru, in Kirikiri Correctional Centre over alleged sexual assault on two pupils.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.O Kushanu, who did not take Anokwuru’s plea, ordered that the file should be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

Kushanu adjourned the case until Sept. 15 for mention.

The defendant, who resides at No. 5, Goodluck Avenue, Ibaranje, Ikotun, Lagos, is facing a charge of sexual assault.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, ASP Adegoke Ademigbuji, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 17 at a private school in Ikotun, Lagos.

Ademigbuji said that the defendant took the girls, both 8-year-old to the school library and touched their private parts.

He said that the defendant also showed the girls a porn video on his phone.

Ademigbuji said the girls later informed the school administrator and the defendant was subsequently arrested.

The prosecutor said offences contravened Sections 135 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.(

Headline

Top 10 Countries With The Fastest Internet Speed In 2025

Published

28 minutes ago

June 26, 2025

Editor

In 2025, global internet speed rankings continue to reveal much about a country’s digital infrastructure, affordability, and technological advancement.

According to the latest real-time data compiled from Speedtest – a platform used daily by millions to test connection quality – Qatar leads the world in mobile internet speeds, with a blistering average of 286.42 Mbps.

The rankings reflect the genuine experience of users around the world and offer valuable insight for travelers, digital nomads, and businesses evaluating global connectivity.

The data also factors in mobile data pricing, making it easier to weigh both speed and cost.

1. Qatar

Qatar ranks first globally in mobile internet speed in 2025, with an average of 286.42 Mbps. The country’s consistent investment in digital infrastructure, particularly around its smart city initiatives and 5G rollout, has paid off. Mobile data remains affordable at $2.40, offering both speed and value.

2. UAE

The United Arab Emirates comes in second with 284.21 Mbps. Known for its tech-forward cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the UAE has heavily prioritized telecommunications infrastructure. Though slightly more expensive at $4.61 per GB, the quality of service is among the best in the world.

3. Kuwait

Kuwait takes the third spot with 216.96 Mbps. What sets Kuwait apart is not only its high speed but also its remarkably low mobile data cost—just $0.52. This makes it one of the most cost-effective countries for internet users.

4. South Korea

South Korea, long recognized as a global tech leader, offers 173.95 Mbps in average mobile internet speed. While its data is pricier at $5.01, the country’s reliable and densely connected network supports a tech-savvy population and widespread smart services.

5. Denmark

Denmark ranks fifth with 157.94 Mbps and impressively low mobile data pricing at $0.69. Its strong digital infrastructure and push toward nationwide 5G adoption have made it a model for connectivity in Europe.

6. China

China delivers fast and extremely affordable internet, with average speeds of 144.85 Mbps and mobile data priced at only $0.38 per GB. As the world’s largest internet market, China’s blend of scale, speed, and low cost is unmatched.

7. Norway

Norway maintains high speeds at 141.40 Mbps. Despite its mountainous terrain and scattered population, the country has developed a resilient mobile network. The average mobile data price is $4.07, reflecting its high standard of living.

8. Iceland

Iceland, with an average speed of 136.91 Mbps and data priced at $1.08, benefits from its compact geography and strong public investment in technology. It consistently ranks high in digital readiness and broadband penetration.

9. Netherlands

The Netherlands offers 134.15 Mbps internet speeds. Known for its efficient urban planning and digital innovation, it provides reliable connectivity with a data cost of $1.61 per GB, making it an attractive destination for tech users.

10. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia rounds out the top ten with 125.19 Mbps. The kingdom has rapidly improved its telecom infrastructure in recent years, with ongoing efforts to diversify its economy through tech and digital services. Mobile data is competitively priced at $1.49.