Conclave

The following morning, Lomeli stares at himself in the mirror, feeling distant from the man who looks back at him. Tremblay celebrates the morning mass, which Lomeli interprets as a power play.

Walking to the Sistine Chapel, Lomeli reflects upon the security and seclusion of the Vatican, preventing the future pope from ever leaving its boundaries in private. Adeyemi joins him to tell him he agrees with Lomeli’s sermon. Lomeli is surprised, but Adeyemi makes it clear that he is offering Lomeli a senior role in the Vatican should Adeyemi be elected.

In the second ballot, Lomeli votes for Bellini once again. Adeyemi takes the lead from Tedesco while Bellini and Tremblay remain in third and fourth places respectively. Lomeli notes that although most of the scattered votes from the previous ballot have gone to the frontrunners, Benítez remains in the race, increasing his tally by one vote.

Lomeli calls immediately for the third ballot. He votes once again for Bellini, though Bellini is crestfallen by his weak performance in the second ballot. Lomeli spends the rest of the ballot contemplating The Last Judgment, a sense of disaster looming over him.

The results of the third ballot maintain Adeyemi’s overwhelming lead, placing him only a few votes shy of the papacy.