Understanding the conclave: How cardinals will elect a new leader for the Catholic Church

IOL News

29-04-2025

Catholic cardinals have set May 7 as the starting date for the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis
Image: Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP
Cardinals from around the world will meet under Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church after Pope Francis's death.
Dating back to the Middle Ages -- when the idea of sovereigns being elected was somewhat revolutionary -- the gathering, known as conclave, has an air of mystery about it, as all participants are sworn to secrecy for life.
Where and when
The conclave will begin on May 7 and last until a new pontiff is elected.
The date was decided at a meeting of cardinals on Monday, where the high prelates also discussed the "qualities that the new pontiff must possess" and the most pressing Church challenges.
These included "evangelisation, the relationship with other faiths (and) the issue of abuse", the Vatican said.
While it took almost three years to appoint Pope Gregory X in the 13th century -- the longest conclave to date -- modern gatherings are usually a matter of days.
Both Francis and his predecessor, Benedict XVI, were elected after two days of voting.
Cardinals will gather and cast their ballots in the Sistine Chapel, a Renaissance jewel adorned with Michelangelo's celebrated frescoes, located in the Vatican City's Apostolic Palace.
The passing of a pope sets in motion a series of centuries-old processes, including a nine-day mourning period, an elaborate burial, and the election of a new leader for the Catholic Church.
Image: Graphic News
Who takes part
Only 135 of the Church's 252 cardinals are expected to take part in the conclave, as only those aged under 80 are eligible to vote for a new pope.
The Monday gathering that decided on a date was attended by more than 180 cardinals, of which just over 100 were so-called "cardinal electors".
Most of those allowed to vote were appointed by Francis -- around 80 percent. They hail from all corners of the globe, with many from under-represented regions.
But Europe still has the largest voting bloc, with 53 cardinals, compared to 27 cardinal-electors from Asia and Oceania, 21 from South and Central America, 16 from North America and 18 from Africa, according to the Vatican.
Italy is the most represented nation with 17 electors. The United States has 10, Brazil seven and France five.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
How voting unfolds
Cardinals hold four ballots a day -- two in the morning and two in the afternoon -- until one candidate wins two-thirds of the votes.
At the end of each session, the ballots are burned in a special stove. With the addition of chemicals, the stove's chimney stack emits black smoke if no one has been elected, or white smoke if there is a new pope.
If no new pope is elected after three days, cardinals take a break and hold a day of prayer and talks.
Any single Catholic adult male can be elected pope, although in practice it is almost always one of the cardinals.
Sick cardinals are allowed to cast their ballots from their beds within the Vatican.
What happens next
The winning candidate is asked by the Dean of Cardinals if he accepts the pontificate and, if the answer is yes, what name he chooses as pontiff.
He then retreats to a room known as the Room of Tears to put on the papal garb -- three sizes of which have been left there in advance -- and emerge in front of the crowds in St Peter's Square.
The new leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics then comes out onto a balcony overlooking the square as a senior cardinal cries: "Habemus Papam" (We have a pope)!
AFP