The Vatican has confirmed that the conclave to elect the next pope will begin on May 7. Cardinals from around the world will gather in the Sistine Chapel for this secretive event. Approximately 135 cardinals are expected to participate in the closed-door meeting following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. His funeral took place on Saturday.
While there is no official timeline for the election, previous conclaves—held in 2005 and 2013—lasted just two days. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni revealed that the cardinals will attend a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Basilica before heading to the Sistine Chapel to begin the election process.
Once inside the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals will be completely isolated from the outside world until a new pope is chosen. On the first afternoon, there will be a single round of voting, followed by up to four votes per day thereafter. To elect a new pope, a two-thirds majority is required, which can take time.
Each cardinal casts their vote on a simple card bearing the Latin phrase “I elect as Supreme Pontiff,” followed by the name of their chosen candidate. If a decision is not reached after the third day, the cardinals may take a break for a day of prayer. Throughout the process, the world will be watching for the color of smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney: black smoke signals no decision, while white smoke indicates that a new pope has been elected.
Pope Francis’ funeral was held on Saturday, attended by world leaders, heads of state, and monarchs. Thousands of mourners gathered in St. Peter’s Square as hymns echoed across the plaza. The ceremony was led by 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who delivered a homily reflecting on Pope Francis’ legacy.
Following the service, a procession took the pope’s coffin through the streets of Rome. Crowds lined the streets, with an estimated 140,000 people cheering and clapping as the hearse—transformed into a white popemobile—passed iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Altare della Patria.
On Sunday, the Vatican released poignant images of Pope Francis’ tomb at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, where a single white rose lay on the stone, illuminated by a spotlight beneath a crucifix.
