As a Jew, I watched the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the subsequent worldwide out pouring of emotion and now the beginning of the conclave with avid interest. This is one of the biggest news stories and moments in recent history that our generation is not only witnessing,,but maybe affected by the outcome.

The death of Pope John Paul was a truly sad event for people of all religions. However, it is now time to look toward the future of the Catholic Church. People around the world, Catholic and not, now have the chance to follow the conclave as closely as ever.

Yesterday, the first day of the conclave of cardinals, or the “Princes of Church” adjourned with black smoke and no bells, a sign that a new pope had not chosen but that there had been a first ballot. As soon as the smoke was released, correspondents for all major newspapers and networks around the world fired up either their laptops or their cameras in order to report on the first day’s events.

This is the first conclave in the history of the 264 popes to be covered by the world wide media with such minute-by-minute intensity. Even when Pope John Paul was elected 26 years ago, in 1979, it was before the birth of CNN. Today, anyone who reads the paper should be able to tell you how a new pope is elected.

The cardinals are called together from all over the world in order to participate in the secret vote. Only cardinals who are under 80 may vote. It is done in a secret, ancient meeting called a conclave.

Before a conclave can start there are nine days of formal mourning. After that the conclave must start no later than 15 days and through a series of secret ballots a new pope is chosen. It used to be that a pope had to have a two thirds majority.

But now, after changes made by Pope John Paul II, after a certain period of time a Pope may be elected by a simple majority. In addition to the actual proceedings profiles of all the cardinals and especially those assumed to be in the front running to take over as pope.

This information is all readily available to any person with access to a newspaper, radio, internet and television. The very fact that I, a Jew, has that type of in-depth knowledge of Catholic proceedings is a testament to not only how global community has become but also to Pope John Paul’s reign, his commitment to healing bridges and working to create a positive world.

This commitment is demonstrated by the high-profile presence of a possible African or Latin American pope where the Catholic Church is thriving. That would truly change the shape of the world.

While the cardinals are the ones making history, we are the ones who get to watch. The new pope will have to reflect the changes in the world and the new problems that have developed with modernity.

While one era has ended a new one is about to begin. We get to witness the future as it happens and that is an opportunity that does not come around everyday. This is truly the first time in history that the entire world is watching this process and that is something to celebrate.