{"id":3913,"date":"2013-03-14T21:28:27","date_gmt":"2013-03-14T21:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=3913"},"modified":"2026-11-01T11:33:05","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T11:33:05","slug":"2013-papal-conclave-new-pope-sistine-chapel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/2013-papal-conclave-new-pope-sistine-chapel","title":{"rendered":"Wrap-up of the 2013 Papal Conclave: What to Know about the New Pope Francis I"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_3756\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/view-of-Basilica-di-San-Pietro-nightVatican-City-in-Rome-Italy.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3756\" class=\" wp-image-3756\" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/view-of-Basilica-di-San-Pietro-nightVatican-City-in-Rome-Italy.jpg\" alt=\"The new pope is chosen in 2013 conclave\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/view-of-Basilica-di-San-Pietro-nightVatican-City-in-Rome-Italy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/view-of-Basilica-di-San-Pietro-nightVatican-City-in-Rome-Italy-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3756\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">More than 100,000 people filled St. Peter&#8217;s Square during the conclave as a chance to see white smoke out of the Sistine Chapel\u2014and the new pope<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As you may have heard, the Vatican has a new pope! The new pope, who took the name Francis I (or Francesco), was picked in the second day of the papal conclave. And, yes, that means that, with the conclave over, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-sistine-chapel-in-the-vatican-museums\">Sistine Chapel<\/a> is reopening.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a handy Q&amp;A \u00a0about the 2013 conclave, the new pope, and the Sistine Chapel reopening!<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/2013-papal-conclave-new-pope-sistine-chapel\/#Why_was_there_a_papal_conclave_and_what_happened_to_Pope_Benedict_XVI\" >Why was there a papal conclave, and what happened to Pope Benedict XVI?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/2013-papal-conclave-new-pope-sistine-chapel\/#Why_was_Pope_Francis_Is_election_such_a_big_deal\" >Why was Pope Francis I&#8217;s election such a big deal?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/2013-papal-conclave-new-pope-sistine-chapel\/#Why_did_he_choose_the_name_Francis_I\" >Why did he choose the name Francis I?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/2013-papal-conclave-new-pope-sistine-chapel\/#Is_there_some_special_connection_Pope_Francis_I_has_to_Italy\" >Is there some special connection Pope Francis I has to Italy?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/2013-papal-conclave-new-pope-sistine-chapel\/#When_is_the_Sistine_Chapel_reopening\" >When is the Sistine Chapel reopening?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_was_there_a_papal_conclave_and_what_happened_to_Pope_Benedict_XVI\"><\/span>Why was there a papal conclave, and what happened to Pope Benedict XVI?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Pope Benedict announced back in February that he was going to step down\u2014and yes, that&#8217;s as much a break with tradition as you would expect. In fact, he was the first pope to resign since 1415. A big reason appears to be the 85-year-old&#8217;s deteriorating health, and his desire to spend more time on reading and research.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3915\" style=\"width: 222px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Card._Jorge_Bergoglio_SJ_2008.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3915\" class=\" wp-image-3915 \" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Card._Jorge_Bergoglio_SJ_2008.jpg\" alt=\"Cardinal TTKTK\" width=\"212\" height=\"252\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3915\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the new Pope Francis I<\/p><\/div>\n<p>After Pope Benedict stepped down on February 28, a conclave had to be called. In a papal conclave, all 115 members of the college of cardinals meet in the Sistine Chapel and elect a new pope. (Here&#8217;s everything you ever wanted to know about <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/vatican\/pope-conclave-2013\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a papal conclave and how it works<\/a>!). \u00a0The conclave took place this week. After only a day and a half, the cardinals elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the new pope.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_was_Pope_Francis_Is_election_such_a_big_deal\"><\/span>Why was Pope Francis I&#8217;s election such a big deal?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As an Argentinian, Jorge Mario Bergoglio\u2014who took the name Pope Francis I\u2014is the first Latin American to have been elected pope, and the first non-European in 1,200 years. He&#8217;s also the first Jesuit to serve as pope.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_did_he_choose_the_name_Francis_I\"><\/span>Why did he choose the name Francis I?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>He chose the name after St. Francis of Assisi, one of Italy&#8217;s two patron saints and a saint particularly known for his humility and humanity. That&#8217;s a real sign, and not an altogether unexpected one\u2014one of the most striking things about Francis has been his humble demeanor. He&#8217;s continued to show that characteristic now as pope. On his first day in the seat, for example, he turned down a special car and security detail that would take him to the Vatican, joining the other cardinals on a bus instead.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_some_special_connection_Pope_Francis_I_has_to_Italy\"><\/span>Is there some special connection Pope Francis I has to Italy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The new pope was born to Italian immigrant parents in Buenos Aires. That&#8217;s actually not that rare. Italians have been settling in Argentina since the 16th century, and some of the most famous Argentinians in history, including President Juan Domingo Peron, have been of Italian descent.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_is_the_Sistine_Chapel_reopening\"><\/span>When is the Sistine Chapel reopening?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>We&#8217;ve just received confirmation that, after <a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/vatican\/sistine-chapel-closure-for-papal-conclave\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">being closed for the papal conclave<\/a>, the Sistine Chapel reopens on Monday, March 18.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>On our once-in-a-lifetime \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/key-masters-tour-sistine-chapel-vatican-museums\/\">VIP Vatican Key Master\u2019s Tour: Unlock the Sistine Chapel, <\/a>you get to open up the Sistine Chapel and have the special space all to yourself.\u00a0Take walks with the KeyMaster before dawn as he opens up the Vatican Museums and enjoy the place to yourself for two full hours.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As you may have heard, the Vatican has a new pope! The new pope, who took the name Francis I (or Francesco), was picked in the second day of the papal conclave. And, yes, that means that, with the conclave over, the Sistine Chapel is reopening. Here&#8217;s a handy Q&amp;A \u00a0about the 2013 conclave, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3756,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[19],"ppma_author":[155],"class_list":["post-3913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-tips","tag-vatican"],"authors":[{"term_id":155,"user_id":3,"is_guest":0,"slug":"walksofitaly","display_name":"Walks of Italy","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9f4cd4dd0c5ab4b4bae57f3500298e23?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog","last_name":"of Italy","first_name":"Walks","job_title":"","description":"Walks began life as the passion project of two guys with one simple mission: To share their love for, and knowledge of, the city of Rome. Since then, Walks has grown into a team of over 100 ground staff and at any time up to 600 guides, operating across 13 of the world\u2019s most exciting cities (and counting!)\r\n\r\nToday we provide some of the most exclusive and beautifully designed small group tours in the industry through Italy-based Walks of Italy and around the world at Walks, where we offer special access to some of the world\u2019s most iconic landmarks and attractions as well as unique cultural experiences."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3913"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3913"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18532,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3913\/revisions\/18532"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3913"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=3913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}