The Conclave’s Deadlock

Repeated ballots expose how quickly a seemingly settled election can reverse, making the threat of prolonged division a force in its own right.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Scattered Allegiances

Scattered Allegiances A historic spread Thirty-four candidates receive votes, a record for a first ballot. The leading four remain close enough that no faction can claim the College’s authority. Negotiation begins The result sends the electors into private conversations about arithmetic and alliances. Their spiritual responsibility now coexists with the practical need to assemble a two-thirds majority.

An Apparent Front-Runner

An Apparent Front-Runner Adeyemi approaches the lead Adeyemi reaches fifty-seven votes, and observers expect a quick victory. His rise appears to resolve the scattered first ballot. A fragile majority The apparent momentum depends on assumptions about his fitness and coalition. The lunch interval exposes the danger of treating a rapidly changing count as final.

A Candidate Falls Away

A Candidate Falls Away Votes move elsewhere After the revelation about Shanumi, Adeyemi’s support drops to twenty-five. Tremblay, Tedesco, and Lomeli gain from the sudden loss of his candidacy. The contest reopens The collapse prevents the College from simply ratifying the apparent morning direction. It also demonstrates how private conduct can transform the electoral arithmetic in minutes.

The Blocking Third

The Blocking Third Tedesco’s threshold Tedesco reaches forty-five votes, more than enough to prevent another candidate from winning easily. Lomeli reaches forty, becoming his principal obstacle. A prolonged crisis looms The result raises the prospect of repeated ballots and a lengthy Conclave. The electors’ desire to avoid deadlock begins influencing whom they consider acceptable.

A New Front-Runner

A New Front-Runner Lomeli overtakes Tedesco Lomeli unexpectedly receives fifty-two votes to Tedesco’s forty-two. The dean becomes the leading candidate despite his refusal to accept that role. The crisis expands Terrorist attacks make the deadlock more urgent, but the votes still require the established threshold. The election remains both a spiritual discernment and a political impasse.

The first ballot

The third ballot

The fourth ballot

The sixth ballot

The seventh ballot