On April 21, 2025, the Church bid farewell to Pope Francis (1936–2025), who died from cardiocirculatory collapse at age 88. His funeral, held on April 26 at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, was attended by thousands of mourners, simultaneously uniting the Church in sorrow and hope. The nine-day period of official mourning for a pope, known by the ancient Latin term “Novendiales” or “Novemdiales,” is now underway, bringing the worldwide Catholic community together in prayer for the soul of Pope Francis and in expectation of the critical process that follows: the Papal Conclave.
What Is the Papal Conclave
The Papal Conclave is the sole method by which the Catholic Church elects its new Supreme Pontiff (pope). It has been in existence, in some form, since the early centuries of the Church, though it was formally codified in 1274. The word “conclave,” derived from the Latin “cum clave,” literally means “with a key,” reflecting the fact that the cardinal electors must remain locked away, safeguarded from any external influence, until they have chosen a new pope. This procedure highlights the gravity of electing the successor of Saint Peter, ensuring that their decision is guided by the Holy Spirit and free from secular pressures.
Why This Process Matters
Catholics believe that Christ Himself entrusted the shepherding of His flock to the Apostle Peter, who became the first Bishop of Rome. Every bishop of Rome thereafter is recognized as the Vicar of Christ on earth and Supreme Pontiff of the universal Church. Choosing who sits in the Chair of Saint Peter is of paramount spiritual and institutional importance, influencing not only the Catholic faithful but also the broader Christian world. A new pope defines the future direction of the Church, builds bridges of unity among Christians and non-Christians alike, and offers spiritual leadership to over one billion Catholics across the globe.
The College of Cardinals: Who Participates?
Primary responsibility for electing the new pope belongs to the College of Cardinals — specifically, those under the age of 80. This group is collectively known as the cardinal electors. While Saint John Paul II’s 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis capped the number of voting cardinals at 120 in paragraph 33, subsequent popes, including Pope Francis, have lawfully dispensed with this numerical limit when deemed necessary (paragraph 36 of the same constitution allows for this). In February 2001, Pope John Paul II himself briefly increased the number of eligible cardinal electors to 135.
After the passing of Pope Francis, there were initially 135 cardinals under age 80 who had the right to vote. However, as of the latest announcement, two cardinals are unable to attend for health reasons, bringing the number of electors expected to participate to 133. These men come from a breadth of nationalities and ecclesiastical backgrounds, symbolizing the global scope of the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, at age 91, is the dean of the College of Cardinals. Yet he is too old to vote or preside over the conclave, as is his vice dean, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri. Therefore, the conclave this time around will be presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state and the most senior cardinal bishop eligible to vote.
The Timeline: Preparation and Process
According to tradition and codified rules, the conclave typically starts 15 days after the pope’s death — on the 16th day of the “interregnum.” The rules allow for a delay of up to 20 days for serious reasons, or an earlier start if all the cardinal electors are already present in Rome. This year, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the conclave will begin on May 7, 2025. On the morning of May 7, the cardinals will celebrate the Holy Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff in St. Peter’s Basilica. That same afternoon, they will gather and process solemnly into the Sistine Chapel while chanting the “Veni Creator Spiritus,” fervently calling on the Holy Spirit to guide the election.
Once they enter the Sistine Chapel, only the electors and a few select officials may remain. Anyone else must leave following the command “Extra omnes” (“Everyone out”). Secrecy is paramount; no communication with the outside world is permitted by any means. Extra precautions are taken to ensure no recording devices are present.
Conducting the Election: Step-by-Step
1. Oath of Secrecy:
Each elector individually places his hand on the Gospels and vows to uphold conclave rules, maintain secrecy, and cast his vote with full liberty of conscience.
2. Voting Sessions:
- On the first day, there is generally one round of voting in the afternoon.
- On subsequent days, there are up to four possible ballots each day — two in the morning, two in the afternoon — though these can end early if a new pope is elected before all votes are cast.
3. Casting the Ballot:
The ballot paper reads “Eligo in summum pontificem” (“I elect as supreme pontiff”). Each cardinal prayerfully writes the name of the man he believes should be pope. Approaching Michelangelo’s breathtaking fresco of the Last Judgment, the elector proclaims, “I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected,” then drops his ballot into a large urn.
4. Counting the Votes:
Three scrutineers (appointed by random drawing) count the ballots. Each ballot is carefully read aloud, and its name is recorded. Once tallied, the ballots are passed along to three “revisers,” who confirm the accuracy of the count. If the number of ballots does not match the number of electors, or there’s any discrepancy, the ballots are immediately burned without further reading, and the vote is repeated.
5. Provision for the Sick:
Three other cardinals serve as “infirmarii,” tasked with taking a special locked box to any elector within the conclave enclosure who is too ill to come to the Sistine Chapel to vote. They bring the sealed box of votes back to the scrutineers to count.
6. Reaching a Two-Thirds Majority:
A candidate must attain a two-thirds majority from the voting cardinals — presently, 90 out of 133 votes — to be elected the new Bishop of Rome. Historically, this can happen quickly or take several days, averaging around three days (about eight ballots) in the last century’s conclaves.
White Smoke, Black Smoke
After each voting session, the ballots are burned. If no pope has been elected, wet straw (or a modern chemical equivalent) is added to create the dark-colored smoke that emanates from the chapel’s chimney. If a pope is chosen, a different chemical is added, resulting in the famous white smoke that signals to the world, “Habemus Papam!” (We have a pope!)
Final Steps: Acceptance and Proclamation
Once a cardinal achieves the required two-thirds majority, the dean (or the cardinal with senior rank among the electors) asks him two questions:
- “Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?”
- “By what name do you wish to be called?”
By the very act of accepting, the new pope assumes the full authority of the papal office. He is then led to the “Room of Tears,” a small annex off the Sistine Chapel, where he dons his papal vestments. With the formalities completed and all the cardinals having shown him homage, the senior cardinal deacon steps out onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to proclaim to the waiting faithful: “Habemus Papam!” He then announces the new pope’s chosen name. The newly elected pope subsequently imparts his first apostolic blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and the world”), marking the official beginning of his pontificate.
The Enduring Spiritual Significance
From chanting the “Veni Creator Spiritus” to meticulously maintaining silence about discussions and votes, the entire conclave process underscores the belief that the Holy Spirit actively guides the Church in choosing the supreme pontiff. For Catholics, this solemn procedure is not mere tradition; it is a prayerful, grace-filled time that testifies to the promise Christ made to remain with His Church always (cf. Matthew 28:20). In a very visible and symbolic act, the white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney proclaims that the universal Church has yet again chosen a successor of Saint Peter, a man entrusted to serve humbly in the footsteps of the Apostles.
As the Church still mourns Pope Francis and prays for his eternal rest, she also places her trust in the Holy Spirit to guide this Papal Conclave. In the days ahead, the world awaits the announcement of a spiritual father who will continue to uphold Christian values and lead the faithful in devotion to Christ. May this time of transition renew the Church’s universal mission and reawaken in every believer the joy of sharing the Gospel, truly reflecting our pro-Christian calling to be united in faith, charity, and hope.
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