03-05-2025
NewsNation special report: Conclave: Unlocking the Mystery
(NewsNation) — Preparations for a May 7 conclave to choose a new pope are underway as cardinals prepare to pick the next leader of the Catholic Church.
NewsNation Prime anchor Natasha Zouves joins guests Mountain Butorac, veteran Vatican journalist Mary Shovlain, Monsignor Kevin Irwin of the Archdiocese of New York and others to explore how the next pope will be chosen, revisit controversial conclaves of the past and examine the front-runners to be the next pope.
How is a conclave conducted after a pope dies?
Pope Francis died the day after Easter following a lengthy hospital stay and ongoing health concerns, according to the Vatican.
The pope's passing will set off the formal process to select his successor, known as a conclave.
Only cardinals are allowed to vote in a papal conclave, though it is not any type of cardinal. The voters are members of the College of Cardinals and are under the age of 80.
According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, there is a limit of 120 voting cardinals, who are referred to as 'the cardinal electors.'
NewsNation's Ashley N. Soriano and Patrick Djordjevic contributed to this report
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