According to the Vatican, the Cardinals present in Rome have decided to start the Conclave on May 7th, following the completion of the Novemdiales Masses, which are nine days of mourning for the deceased Pope.
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File Photo; Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel before the Conclave in March 2013 (Courtesy Photo)
The Vatican has announced that the Cardinals will begin the Conclave on May 7th, 2025, to elect a new Pope following the death of Pope Francis. Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, was buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in central Rome on Saturday.
His death marked the beginning of a period known as "sede vacante," meaning "empty seat," within the Catholic Church. To prevent unauthorized use, the Pope’s ring and seal, which are used for dispatching papal documents, were broken. According to the Vatican, the Cardinals present in Rome have decided to start the Conclave on May 7th, following the completion of the Novemdiales Masses, which are nine days of mourning for the deceased Pope.
The decision was made during the fifth General Congregation held on Monday morning at the Vatican Synod Hall. “The Conclave will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, which will remain closed to visitors during those days,” the Vatican stated. The Conclave will be preceded by a Solemn Eucharist Celebration, attended by the cardinal electors.
Of the 252 cardinals in the Church, 135 under the age of 80 will serve as electors in the Conclave. These cardinals are sworn to secrecy during the proceedings and pledge to refrain from supporting external interference in the election. The distribution of the 252 cardinals is as follows: 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 cardinals eligible to vote, with 17, followed by the United States with 10 and Brazil with seven.
The United Kingdom has three.
A two-thirds majority of electors is required to validly elect a new Pope. If the number of electors is not divisible by three, an additional vote will be held. Voting will begin on the afternoon of the first day with one ballot. On subsequent days, two ballots will be held in the morning and two in the afternoon.
After each vote, the ballots are burned. If the vote is inconclusive, black smoke will rise from a chimney positioned above the Sistine Chapel. If a Pope is elected, white smoke will signal the result. If the cardinals do not decide after three days of inconclusive voting, they will be allowed a one-day break for prayer, discussion, and a brief spiritual exhortation by the Cardinal Proto-Deacon.
Once the Conclave begins, the cardinals will remain in the Vatican until a new Pope is elected. The term "conclave" comes from the Latin phrase "with key," referring to the isolation of the cardinals during the election process.
