Thousands Of People Cheer As Pope Francis’ Coffin Passes Through The City
St Peter’s Basilica is seen in the background as a cardinal arrives for a college of cardinals’ meeting, at the Vatican, Monday, April 28, 2025. Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo
The leaders of the Catholic Church will assemble to choose the next pope on May 7, the Vatican has confirmed.
The successor to Pope Francis will be elected in a secret meeting of cardinals, 135 of which are eligible to vote.
There is no set time for how long a conclave may last, though the last two times a pope was chosen, in 2005 and 2013, the process lasted less than two days.
Conclave is called whenever a new pope is needed, with the last meeting that elected Pope Francis occurring when Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013.
This conclave was called after Pope Francis died in the position at the age of 88.
Pope Francis’ funeral was held on April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, attended by hundreds of thousands of mourners and global dignitaries, including President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Prince William.
How Does the Conclave Process Work?
The papal conclave follows strict protocols developed over nearly a millennium. Only the College of Cardinals, composed of senior church leaders appointed by past popes, is authorized to elect the new pope.
The conclave begins when all voting cardinals—those under the age of 80—gather in Vatican City.
The cardinals will seclude themselves in the Sistine Chapel, cut off from external contact, and swear an oath of secrecy to maintain the integrity of the process.
Voting is done on paper ballots, where each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate. To be elected, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority. After each round, the ballots are burned: black smoke signals no decision, white smoke signals a new pope.
How Long Will Conclave Last?
Once inside the Sistine Chapel, the eligible cardinals will vote up to four times a day—two rounds in the morning and two in the afternoon. After three days of voting, they will take a day of rest.
If no candidate secures the required two-thirds majority after about two weeks, the cardinals may shift to a simple majority to speed up the process.
Historically, conclaves have varied widely in length. The 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis lasted just two days, but earlier elections have stretched on for weeks or even months.
With a majority of voting cardinals appointed by Francis, his influence could shape a quicker consensus or extend deliberations, depending on the direction of the vote. (Newsweek)