​The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect the new pope will commence on May 7, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. A total of 135 cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the secret ballot held in the Sistine Chapel. The election process requires a two-thirds majority to select the new pontiff. Ballots are burned after each voting round, with black smoke indicating no decision and white smoke signaling the election of a new pope. The Sistine Chapel has been closed to the public to prepare for the conclave.

This conclave will be the largest in the Catholic Church’s history, with 135 eligible cardinal-electors. Many of these cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis, reflecting his efforts to diversify the College of Cardinals by including members from Asia, Africa, and South America. The absence of a clear front-runner and the diverse backgrounds of the electors may influence the duration and outcome of the conclave. ​

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