A new pope requires a two-thirds majority – and that can take time.

Who Will Be the Next Pope? Inside the Vatican’s Mysterious Conclave

As the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, attention now turns to the Vatican, where preparations are underway to elect his successor. The secretive papal conclave begins 7 May inside the Sistine Chapel, with 135 cardinals from across the globe gathering to choose the next Supreme Pontiff.

How a Pope Is Elected

The process of electing a pope is steeped in centuries of tradition. Each cardinal casts his vote on a simple card bearing the Latin phrase, “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” — “I elect as Supreme Pontiff” — followed by the name of their chosen candidate.

If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, the ballots are burned. Black smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney signals to the world that the voting continues. When a pope is finally elected, white smoke announces the decision to the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square and beyond.

If the conclave continues without a result after three days, the cardinals may pause for a day of prayer and reflection before resuming the vote. Historically, conclaves have varied in length, but recent ones — in 2005 and 2013 — lasted only two days.

A Moment of Global Attention

The unpredictability of the conclave lies in its closed nature and the lack of campaigning. Cardinals are forbidden from discussing voting intentions and are cut off from the outside world throughout the process.

Speculation will continue, but the decision ultimately lies in the hands of the Holy Spirit — at least, according to Vatican tradition.

A Historic Farewell

On Saturday, thousands of mourners, including politicians and royalty, gathered in St Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis. Hymns rang out from giant speakers, occasionally drowned by helicopters overhead, as 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered a poignant homily reflecting on the pope’s life and legacy.

Following the Mass, enormous crowds — estimated at 140,000 — lined the streets of Rome. They applauded and waved as the pope’s coffin was carried in a solemn procession to his final resting place: Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.

The hearse, a repurposed white popemobile, crossed the Tiber River, passing iconic Roman landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Altare della Patria at Piazza Venezia.

On Sunday, the Vatican released images of the late pontiff’s tomb. A single white rose lay on the simple stone slab engraved with his papal name, beneath a crucifix lit by a solitary spotlight — a quiet symbol of the legacy he leaves behind.

Vatican to Begin Conclave on 7 May to Elect New Pope

The Vatican has announced that cardinals from around the world will convene next month in a secret conclave to elect the next pope, following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. His funeral was held on Saturday in a solemn ceremony attended by thousands.

The closed-door conclave will begin on 7 May inside the Sistine Chapel, with around 135 cardinals eligible to vote. According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, the process will open with a solemn mass at St Peter’s Basilica, after which the cardinals will move into the chapel and remain isolated from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.

The Process of Electing a Pope

The election of a pope is governed by tradition and ritual. On the first day of the conclave, only one round of voting takes place. From the second day onward, up to four ballots are held daily. A two-thirds majority is required to elect the new pontiff, which can make the process unpredictable.

Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a simple ballot inscribed in Latin: “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”). If no decision is reached after three days of voting, the cardinals may pause for a day of prayer and reflection before resuming.

The outcome of each ballot is revealed in a centuries-old tradition watched by millions: black smoke from the chapel chimney means no decision has been made; white smoke signals that a new pope has been chosen.

A Nation and World in Mourning

Saturday’s funeral for Pope Francis drew politicians, royalty, and pilgrims to St Peter’s Square. Hymns echoed across the square from giant speakers, at times overtaken by the sound of helicopters above. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, delivered a heartfelt homily reflecting on the late pope’s legacy.

Following the funeral Mass, the pope’s coffin was carried in a procession through the streets of Rome to his final resting place, Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. An estimated 140,000 mourners lined the route, clapping and waving as the white popemobile-hearse passed some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Altare della Patria at Piazza Venezia.

On Sunday, the Vatican released images of Pope Francis’s tomb, a simple stone marked with his papal name. A single white rose had been placed upon it, beneath a crucifix illuminated by a soft spotlight—a quiet tribute to a deeply influential spiritual leader.

Conclave to elect new pope to begin on 7 May, Vatican says