Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, as announced by the Vatican on April 21, 2025. With his passing, all eyes are now on the selection of the new pope. A papal election,also known as a conclave, will soon begin, following the same historic process that has been observed for centuries. In keeping with tradition, the pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals, a group of ordained bishops who serve as the Church’s most senior officials. They will now be called for a meeting at the Vatican, where the conclave will take place.
1. Papal Vacancy and Mourning
When a pope dies or resigns, the papal seat becomes vacant, and the Catholic Church enters a period of mourning during which the College of Cardinals temporarily assumes responsibility for governing the Church.
2. Preparation for election
In the days following the pope’s death or resignation, cardinals from around the world gather in Rome for “general congregations”, where they reflect, pray, and discuss the needs of the Church. This preparatory phase, which lasts around 15 to 20 days, also involves finalising the arrangements for the conclave and setting the stage for the papal election.
3. Who Votes here?
Only cardinals who are under the age of 80 at the time the papal seat becomes vacant are eligible to vote in the conclave. These cardinal electors, traditionally capped at 120, are tasked with choosing the next pope, although some conclaves in recent times have included more due to appointments made by the outgoing pope.
4. The Conclave
The conclave takes place in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, where cardinal electors are sworn to secrecy and isolated from the outside world for the duration of the election. The process begins with a special Mass for the Election of the Pope at St. Peter’s Basilica, after which the electors proceed to the chapel to begin the voting.
5. Voting Process
Voting is conducted through a secret ballot, with each cardinal writing the name of their chosen candidate and placing it into a chalice or urn. Up to four rounds of voting are held each day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, and a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority to be elected.
After each round, ballots are burned in a stove: black smoke indicates no decision has been reached, while white smoke signals that a new pope has been chosen.
6. If No Decision Is Reached
If no candidate is elected after several days, traditionally after 13 days, the voting may be paused to allow for further prayer, reflection, and discussion among the cardinals. Eventually, the process may lead to a runoff between the top two candidates to break the deadlock.
7. Acceptance and Announcement
Once a candidate gets the required two-thirds majority vote, he is asked if he accepts the role of pope and what name he wants to take. After he agrees, he is dressed in papal robes and introduced to the world from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The cardinal protodeacon then announces, 'Habemus Papam' ('We have a Pope').