The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect the successor of Pope Francis will begin on May 7. This event is significant for the Catholic Church, as around 135 cardinal electors will gather to vote for the new pope. These cardinals, all under the age of 80, come from various parts of the world, with 53 from Europe, 23 from Asia, 20 from North America, 18 from Africa, 17 from South America, and four from Oceania.
After the passing of Pope Francis, the church entered a phase called "sede vacante," which means "empty seat." During this time, the late pope’s ring and seal were destroyed to prevent their use by anyone else. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who announced Francis’s death, is currently serving as the interim leader of the church.
The conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel, a site rich in history and tradition. Cardinals arrive in Rome from all over the globe and remain there until a new pope is elected. Italy has the highest number of voting cardinals with 17, followed by the United States with 10 and Brazil with seven.
Once the conclave starts, the cardinals will not leave the Vatican until they have chosen a new pope. They will vote in secret, with the first day limited to one ballot. After that, they will hold two votes each day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority plus one. If no consensus is reached, the ballots are burned, producing black smoke to signal that a pope has not yet been chosen. If a new pope is elected, the ballots will burn with an additive that creates white smoke.
This process is steeped in tradition. The longest conclave lasted nearly three years, while others have taken just one day. After the election, the new pope is asked if he accepts the role and what name he will take. He then dons the papal vestments and sits on a throne in the Sistine Chapel to receive the other cardinals. The senior cardinal deacon will step out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce to the world, "Habemus Papam," meaning "We have a pope," revealing the new leader’s name.
The new pope will then greet the crowd in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of his ministry with a special mass shortly after. This conclave represents a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church as it prepares for a new chapter in its leadership.