conclave

Since the Communist Party won control of mainland China in 1949, only four Central Committee plenums have promoted 10 or more alternates to full membership, including this week’s conclave, according to party records.

The readout of the closed-door conclave also included a pledge to step up high-end manufacturing, another measure viewed as part of Beijing’s efforts to hold its own against the U.S.

But after an unexplained nine-month delay to the third plenum until July 2024, that monumental task is now expected to fall on the upcoming conclave.

The richly-decorated 15th Century chapel is the setting for the conclave of cardinals that elects the pope.

Leo, 70, who has a history of missionary work in Peru and is the first pope from the United States, was elected in a conclave of cardinals on May 8.