ROME, April 18

If Michelangelo had happened by his old painting grounds to clean a few brushes or pick up a chisel late this afternoon, he would have immediately recognized the event taking place.

Only the presence of the Chinese and Vietnamese Cardinals and the lack of canopies over the Cardinals desks would have given him pause.

He would have recognized the Swiss Guards from the uniforms he designed for them in a mix of a dare and a dig against Pope Julius II.

Even though not much has changed and the electors are a narrow slice of the ordained only, this is an election for a holder of an episcopal office.

The electors, however, don't know each other very well and there are language barriers. About 60 of the 115 electors became Cardinals in the most recent consistories and they haven't had much mingling time, particularly for a decision of this import. The writings of many Cardinals are thin and so that's not a way that the electors could have really studied each other before coming to the conclave.

The first vote's finale of black smoke was welcomed more by excitement than disappointment. There's a feel here that a quick decision would be a hefty mistake.

The ancient hymn of prayer to invoke the presence of the Holy Spirit - “Veni Creator Spiritus” - was sung when all the electors had entered the most famous chapel in the world and walked to their assigned places in one of two rows of desks against each of the side walls in the chapel.

When the hymn concluded, a second procession began. The Cardinals walked in single file to the Books of the Gospels. Each laid his right hand on the Scripture and said aloud in Latin the oath promising to keep the details of the conclave secret. Each pledged that he had come freely to the election to make what he believed to be the best choice for the Church.

Cardinal Bernard Law was the first of the 11 Americans to take the oath.

Cardinal Edward Egan, with his right hand resting on the Scripture, laid his left hand on his episcopal cross as he said the last words of the oath.

Cardinal Oscar Rodriquez of Honduras, who is papabile, was one of four or five Cardinals who spoke the oath loudly.

One Cardinal, oath already taken, stretched back his head to take in Michelangelo's ceiling, beneath the ever so close fingers of Adam and God.

Immediately after the 115th Cardinal had finished the oath and walked to his seat, Archbishop Pietro Marini, an aide and Master of Ceremonies for Pope John Paul II, announced, “Extra Omnes,” which very loosely translated means “everybody who isn't an elector needs to leave.” That precipitated the exit of the Swiss Guards, except for the Commander, the acolytes, news photographers, reporters and the papal photographer. The high doors of the Sistine were swung shut and the conclave began.

Two more notes of the day: I had a quick exchange with George Weigel, the author of Witness to Hope, a biography of Pope John Paul II, just to let him know that Voice of the Faithful is in town. More important, I had the beginning of what I think will be a continued conversation with a staff member of the Congregation for Bishops. Stay tuned.