The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis will begin on May 7, 2025. The decision was made Monday during the first daily gathering of cardinals following Pope Francis’ funeral, as church leaders from around the world continue to assemble in Rome to prepare for the historic vote.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the secretive voting process. Of the 252 current cardinals, 135 are eligible electors, though at least one is expected to be absent. The conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel, which will be closed to visitors for the duration of the election.
The process will begin with a solemn Mass for the election of the pope (Pro Eligendo Papa), after which the cardinal electors will proceed in a formal procession to the Sistine Chapel. There, they will take an oath of secrecy and begin voting, with a two-thirds majority required to elect the new pontiff. Ballots are burned after each round of voting, with black smoke signaling no decision and white smoke announcing the successful election of a new pope.
The two most recent conclaves-in 2005 for Benedict XVI and in 2013 for Pope Francis-each lasted only two days. However, some cardinals have suggested this conclave could take longer, given the diversity of backgrounds among the electors, many of whom were appointed by Francis and may not know each other well.
Pope Francis, who died at age 88 on Easter Monday due to a stroke and heart failure, was buried Saturday at Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, in accordance with his wishes. His funeral drew heads of state, royalty, and hundreds of thousands of mourners.
The conclave’s outcome will shape the future direction of the Catholic Church and is being closely watched by the Church’s 1.4 billion members worldwide.