Jacopo is the Dean of the College of Cardinals and the Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia. He has spent most of his ecclesiastical career in Vatican administration rather than pastoral care. A recent survivor of prostate cancer, he is quietly experiencing a profound crisis of faith. He attempted to resign to a monastery but was denied by his superior, forcing him to oversee the high-pressure electoral process of the conclave.

Vincent is the Filipino Archbishop of Baghdad who spent his life devoted to missionary work in impoverished and war-torn regions. He arrives empty-handed from Iraq. Appointed to the rank of cardinal in secret (in pectore) by the previous pontiff, he holds a strong reputation among cardinals from the Global South. He values pastoral care over institutional politics.

Joseph is the ambitious Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, responsible for the Vatican's finances. He is a Canadian cardinal who presents himself as a moderate candidate capable of bridging the gap between traditionalists and liberals. He prioritizes his political image and leverages his financial position to build influence among his peers.

Aldo serves as the Secretary of State in the Vatican and is the leading liberal candidate for the papacy. He advocates for tolerance and progress within the Church. Despite his strong intellectual background and theological passions, he is a reluctant candidate who struggles with anxiety about the burden of leadership.

Goffredo is a hardcore traditionalist who seeks to undo the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council. He advocates strongly for the reinstatement of Latin as the Church's official language. He utilizes shrewd political strategies to maintain his voting bloc and views modern secularism as a threat to the institution.

Joshua is a Nigerian cardinal who served as the late pontiff's chief confessor. He holds conservative views that align with traditionalist factions while appealing to progressive desires for a diverse leadership. He is charismatic and ambitious, making him an early public favorite for the papacy.

Raymond is Jacopo's private secretary. He handles administrative duties, coordinates schedules, and gathers information about the various cardinals arriving at the Casa Santa Marta. He is loyal to his employer and often encourages him to investigate suspicious behavior among the frontrunners.

The unnamed previous pontiff rejected the luxurious Apostolic Palace in favor of a simpler residence. Before his death, he experienced a severe crisis of faith regarding the institution of the Church itself. His secret actions and private observations set the stage for the conflicts of the conclave.

Janusz is the Prefect of the Papal Household. He is a dutiful official burdened by sensitive information regarding the final days of the previous pontiff and the internal power struggles of the Vatican.

Hector is the late pontiff's secretary. He is cautious and protective of the documentation and events left behind by his former employer.

Sister Agnes is the nun in charge of reception at the Casa Santa Marta. She oversees the domestic staff serving the cardinals and protects the privacy of the nuns working under her supervision.

Sister Shanumi is a nun from Nigeria assigned to serve at the Casa Santa Marta. Her unexpected presence at the Vatican brings hidden tensions from the past into the sequestered environment.

Sabbadin is a Milanese cardinal and a staunch supporter of the progressive bloc. He is pragmatic about ecclesiastical politics and willing to compromise his ideals to prevent traditionalists from taking power.

Scavizzi is an elderly cardinal who is no longer eligible to vote in the conclave due to his advanced age. He acts as a mouthpiece for the hardcore traditionalist faction, critiquing calls for tolerance.