Conclave: How is a new Pope elected?

STV News

22-04-2025

ITV News UK Editor Paul Brand explains what happens when the Pope dies, and how the next Pope will be selected with the gathering of the College of Cardinals for the conclave.
The centuries old process of the papal conclave – the election of a new Pope – is underway following the death of Pope Francis.
The election of a new pope is a special moment, the Vatican City will be full of anticipation as crowds gather outside St Peter's Square waiting for the signal that the monumental decision has been made.
Inside the Sistine Chapel, behind marble walls and beneath Michelangelo's frescoes, 120 cardinals will gather in red robes to select the next pope with a historic vote.
With no phones or connection to the outside world – the cardinals are guided only by centuries of tradition and faith.
Here, ITV News explains how a pope is elected and when the new pontiff will be announced.
What is the conclave?
For centuries, leaders of the Roman Catholic Church have been chosen at the Vatican in private gatherings known as conclaves.
The historic vote, which often happens between 15 to 20 days after the Pope's death, is shrouded in secrecy. Crowds often gather in St Peter's Square ahead of the selection of a new Pope. / Credit: AP
Who can be pope?
Any baptised Catholic can be elected pope, but since 1379 every pope has been selected from the College of Cardinals – the group who cast the votes at the conclave.
Cardinals are senior members of the clergy, many who are bishops and archbishops appointed by the pope.
The rules of the conclave, as of January 22, 2025, stated there are 138 electors – and therefore 138 eligible papal candidates – of the 252 cardinals.
Only those under the age of 80 may take part in the secret ballot. The College of Cardinals take an oath of secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican before the start of the conclave. / Credit: AP
How does the vote take place?
Once the cardinals have arrived, the conclave begins with a special morning Mass in St Peter's Basilica. In the afternoon, the cardinals walk to the Sistine Chapel to start the voting process.
The College of Cardinals then take a vow of secrecy inside the chapel and, with the exception of a few workers, no one else is allowed in.
All communications with the outside world, including phones and the internet, are removed and the chapel is checked for recording devices.
The cardinals are handed voting papers to write the name of the person they have selected.
One by one – in order of seniority – they take it in turns to approach the altar where they leave it on a plate, pray, below the words 'Eligo in Summun Pontificem' – Latin for 'I elect as supreme pontiff' – and then place it in an urn.
The names are then counted and if a name has received two-thirds of the votes, the pope has been elected.
If the first ballot does not produce a result, a maximum of four ballots are held on each successive day: two in each morning and two in each afternoon. The historic vote, which often happens between 15 to 20 days after the Pope's death, is shrouded in secrecy. / Credit: AP
The process is repeated for three days, after which there is a day's rest for prayer, reflection and informal discussions.
The voting then begins again for a series of seven more ballots and then another break.
The process is repeated twice more and if there is still a stalemate, the chamberlain will declare a result can come from an absolute majority or by a vote on the two names that received the largest number of votes in the last ballot.
Once a candidate has been chosen, they are called to the front of the chapel and asked whether they are willing to accept.
If the answer is yes, the new pope is then asked to choose his new papal name. When white smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chape it indicates that the new pope has been elected. / Credit: AP
There are no rules around selecting the papal name, however the name chosen by the Pope often reflects a predecessor they admire or is linked to a revered saint, and can signify the values they will focus on.
When is the new pope announced?
After each round of voting, the ballots are burned with chemicals to make the smoke either black – meaning no decision has been reached or white – signalling a pope has been elected.
Shortly after, the new pope – dressed in his new white robe and red slippers – will appear from the main balcony of St Peter's Basilica.
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