This closed meeting is scheduled to commence in the Sistine Chapel on May 7, involving approximately 135 cardinals from around the globe.
This 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, previous conclaves in 2005 and 2013 were completed in just two days.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni stated that the cardinals will participate in a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, after which those eligible to vote will assemble in the Sistine Chapel for the confidential voting process.
Once inside the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals are prohibited from any communication with the outside world until a new pope is chosen.
The initial voting round will occur on the first afternoon of the conclave, with subsequent votes taking place up to four times daily thereafter.
A new pope must secure a two-thirds majority, which may require considerable time.
Who will be the next Pope? The process of electing a Pope, the unpredictability of the conclave, and remarkable images from the funeral of Pope Francis.
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 will be watching for the smoke from the chimney outside the Sistine Chapel.
Black smoke indicates another voting round, while white smoke signifies the election of a new pope. On Saturday, dignitaries and thousands of mourners gathered for Pope Francis’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square.
Hymns resonated through large speakers, occasionally interrupted by the sound 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 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, beneath a crucifix illuminated by a single spotlight.
The Vatican has announced that a conclave to elect a new pope will commence on May 7.
Cardinals from around the globe will convene next month in a confidential assembly to select the successor to Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, with his funeral taking place on Saturday.
While there is no specified duration for the election process, previous conclaves in 2005 and 2013 concluded within two days.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni indicated that the cardinals will participate in a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, after which eligible voters will assemble in the Sistine Chapel for the private voting procedure.
Once inside the chapel, the cardinals are prohibited from any external communication until a new pope is chosen.
The initial voting round will occur on the first afternoon of the conclave, followed by up to four votes each subsequent day.
A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope, which may extend the duration of the conclave.
Remarkable images from the funeral of Pope Francis. Each cardinal submits their vote on a plain card inscribed in Latin: ‘I elect as Supreme Pontiff,’ followed by the name of their preferred candidate.
Should the conclave extend into its third day without a consensus, the cardinals may take a day for prayer.
The global audience will be attentive to the smoke emerging from the chimney outside the Sistine Chapel.
Black smoke indicates that another voting session will occur, while white smoke signifies the election of a new pope.
