The Vatican has announced that cardinals will convene next month in a confidential conclave to select the new pope.
This private assembly is scheduled to commence in the Sistine Chapel on May 7, involving approximately 135 cardinals from around the globe.
This event follows the passing of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, with his funeral taking place on Saturday.
While there is no specified duration for the election of the new pope, the last two conclaves in 2005 and 2013 were completed in just two days.
Matteo Bruni, the spokesman for the Vatican, announced that cardinals will participate in a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, following which eligible voters will convene in the Sistine Chapel for a confidential ballot.
Upon entering the Sistine Chapel, cardinals are required to refrain from any communication with the outside world until a new Pope is chosen.
During the initial afternoon of the conclave, there will be a single round of voting; however, the cardinals are permitted to cast their votes up to four times each subsequent day.
Who will be the next Pope? The process of electing a Pope is complex and often unpredictable, particularly during the conclave.
Extraordinary images emerged from the funeral of Pope Francis, where each cardinal votes using a simple card inscribed in Latin: ‘I elect as Supreme Pontiff,’ followed by the name of their preferred candidate. If the conclave does not reach a decision by the end of the third day, the cardinals may take a day for prayer.
The world watches the chimney of the Sistine Chapel for smoke signals; black smoke indicates further voting is necessary, while white smoke confirms the election of a new pope.
On Saturday, dignitaries and thousands of mourners gathered in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ funeral.
Hymns resonated through large speakers, occasionally interrupted by the sound of helicopters, as 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered a homily reflecting on the pope’s legacy.
Following the ceremony, large crowds filled the streets of Rome to witness the procession of the Pope’s coffin to its final resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
Authorities reported that 140,000 people lined the streets, applauding and waving as the hearse, a modified white popemobile, traversed the Tiber River and passed iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Altare della Patria national monument in Piazza Venezia.
On Sunday, images of Pope Francis’s tomb were released, featuring a solitary white rose resting on the stone inscribed with his papal name, illuminated by a single spotlight beneath a crucifix.
The Vatican has announced that a conclave to elect the new pope will commence on May 7.
A private meeting is scheduled to commence within the Sistine Chapel on May 7, involving approximately 135 cardinals from around the globe.
This event follows the passing of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, with his funeral taking place on Saturday.
While there is no specified duration for the election of the next pope, the last two conclaves in 2005 and 2013 were concluded in just two days.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni indicated that the cardinals will participate in a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, after which those eligible to vote will convene in the Sistine Chapel for the confidential ballot.
Upon entering the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals are prohibited from any communication with the outside world until a new pope is chosen. The first afternoon of the conclave will feature a single round of voting, followed by up to four votes each subsequent day.
A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope, which may extend the process. Questions arise regarding who will be the next pope, the election process, and the unpredictable nature of the conclave, alongside remarkable images from Pope Francis’s funeral. Each cardinal casts their vote on a straightforward card inscribed in Latin: ‘I elect as Supreme Pontiff,’ followed by the name of their preferred candidate.
Should the conclave reach its third day without a decision, the cardinals may take a day for prayer.
The world will be observing the chimney of the Sistine Chapel for the smoke signals. If the smoke appears black, it indicates that another voting session will take place.
Conversely, white smoke signifies the election of a new pope. On Saturday, a gathering of politicians and royalty, alongside thousands of mourners, attended the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square.
Hymns resonated through large speakers, occasionally interrupted by the noise of helicopters overhead, as 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered a homily reflecting on the pope’s legacy.
Following the ceremony, large crowds filled the streets of Rome to witness the procession of the Pope’s coffin to its final resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
Authorities reported that 140,000 individuals lined the streets, applauding and waving as the hearse, a modified white popemobile, traversed the Tiber River and passed by some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, including the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Altare della Patria national monument located in Piazza Venezia.
On Sunday, photographs of Pope Francis’s tomb at the church were unveiled, depicting a solitary white rose resting on the stone inscribed with the name he was recognized by during his papacy, beneath a crucifix highlighted by a single spotlight.
