Victor EzejaThe conclave to elect a new Pope, head of the Roman Catholic Church, has been scheduled to begin on May 7.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the Holy See Press Office on Monday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the statement, the Cardinals who are present in Rome made the decision on Monday at their fifth General Congregation.
According to Vatican News, approximately 180 cardinals (including over a hundred of whom are electors) were present during the Monday meeting.
The conclave will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, which will remain closed to visitors during those days.
The conclave usually begins between 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death. Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Monday, 21 April 2025 and was buried on Saturday, 26 April at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in central Rome.
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With the conclusion of the Francis’ burial next step is the election of a new pope which is the responsibility of eligible cardinals in the college of cardinals.
There are 252 cardinals as of 2025. The only people who can vote are those under 80, although everyone can participate in the discussions on who should be selected.
This means there are only 135 eligible cardinal electors.
Prior to the conclave, there will be a solemn Eucharistic celebration with the votive attended by the Cardinal electors.
Inside the Sistine Chapel, each Cardinal elector takes an oath, pledging to maintain “absolute secrecy” regarding all activities related to the election of a Pontiff and avoid supporting any attempts at external interference in the election.
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After taking the oath, the cardinal electors engage in prayers and meditation about the sacred duty they are embarking on. “This meditation focuses on the grave responsibility that rests upon the electors and the necessity of acting with pure intentions for the good of the Universal Church, keeping only God before their eyes,” the Vatican stated.
Once the election process starts, the cardinal electors remain in the Sistine Chapel until it is concluded. While there, they refrain from all forms of communication with the outside world.
What Votes are required to elect a Pope?
The rules state that votes of a two-thirds majority of the electors present is required to validly elect a new Pope.
After the votes are counted, all ballots are burned. If the ballot was inconclusive, the signal to the faithful outside is black smoke that emits from a chimney positioned over the Sistine Chapel. However, if the election is successful and a new Pope emerges, white smoke will billow out of the chimney.
The Catholic Church has had 266 popes in its over 2,000-year history.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
