Following the sad news of the passing of Pope Francis, Mr Wilson’s 4th Class took a deep and respectful look at what happens next in the Catholic Church — the Papal Conclave.
In this special Religion and History crossover lesson, the class learned all about the ancient and sacred process used to elect a new pope. We discovered how cardinals from around the world travel to the Vatican, where they are locked away in the Sistine Chapel until a decision is reached.
The girls were fascinated to learn that cardinals over the age of 80 do not have voting rights, and how each vote is kept secret and counted with great care. In true Vatican style, our classroom was transformed into a mini conclave!
Each student took on the role of a cardinal. We wrote and cast our votes, threading each one through a string, just like in the real process. Over three rounds of voting, the suspense grew — but no one reached the required two-thirds majority (the quota needed to elect a new pope).
We discussed how, throughout history, some conclaves have lasted for months — even years! This hands-on learning gave the girls a real appreciation for the responsibility and tradition behind one of the world’s most important decisions.
A big well done to our young cardinals — we may not have elected a pope, but we certainly learned a lot! ⛪🕊️🗳️
