According to press reports, two cardinal-electors aged 79 have already announced that they won’t be present at the upcoming conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor. With their withdrawal, the number of participants would drop to 133 cardinals. Currently 135 are officially counted.
A Croatian cardinal and a Spanish cardinal, both aged 79, have declared that they will not be at the conclave, despite being eligible, citing health reasons.
Croatian cardinal Vinko Puljic, archbishop emeritus of Sarajevo, and Spanish cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, archbishop emeritus of Valencia, have both stated that they will be unable to travel to Rome for the conclave for health reasons.
The opening date of the conclave is still unknown.
Archidiócesis de Valencia
The Holy See Press Office has not commented on their statements, saying that it will release information at a later date.
For the time being, the general congregations of cardinals have not begun active preparations for the conclave, but are making arrangements for the funeral of Pope Francis, scheduled for April 26.
AFP PHOTO - ELVIS BARUKCIC
The absence of Cardinal Puljic and Cardinal Cañizares would reduce the number of cardinal electors in the conclave to 133. It would then take 89 votes — rather than the current 90 — to achieve a two-thirds majority in favor of a candidate.
