Conclave to Elect New Pope Set for May 7, Vatican Confirms

• Apr 28, 2025

The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor will begin on 7 May, 2025. Around 135 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, are expected to take part in the centuries-old process to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church.

Following the death of Pope Francis, the Church entered a period called “sede vacante,” meaning “empty seat.” During this time, the pope’s ring and seal, which were used to issue official documents, were broken to prevent misuse. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who serves as the Camerlengo or chamberlain, assumed the role of interim leader and formally announced Pope Francis’s death.

Cardinals from around the world will travel to Rome for the conclave and will remain inside Vatican grounds until a new pope is elected. Of the 252 cardinals globally, only 135 are eligible to vote: 53 from Europe, 23 from Asia, 20 from North America, 18 from Africa, 17 from South America, and four from Oceania. Italy has the most voting cardinals at 17, followed by the United States with 10 and Brazil with seven. The United Kingdom has three voting cardinals.

The conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel, and the word itself comes from Latin meaning "with key," highlighting the seclusion of the process. While voting, the cardinals sleep in the Casa Santa Marta, a guesthouse within the Vatican. They are forbidden from using telephones, the internet, or accessing newspapers to maintain strict secrecy.

Voting begins with one ballot on the first day, followed by two votes each subsequent day until a candidate achieves a two-thirds majority plus one. If no pope is chosen after three days, voting is paused for a day of prayer and discussion before resuming.

The outcome of the votes is signaled by smoke from a special stove in the chapel. Black smoke indicates no decision, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope. The white smoke is a highly anticipated moment, with Catholics gathering in St Peter’s Square to witness the announcement.

Once a candidate accepts his election and chooses a papal name, he dresses in specially prepared vestments and is introduced to the world. The senior cardinal deacon steps onto the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to declare “Habemus Papam” — “We have a pope” — revealing both the new pope’s original name and chosen title. The newly elected pope then delivers his first blessing to the gathered crowd. A few days later, he celebrates a mass to officially begin his papal ministry.