The conclave to elect the new Pope after the death of Pope Francis will officially begin next May 7, 2025 at 16:30 local time in Rome (14:30 GMT) with the traditional entrance and closing of the cardinal electors in the Sistine Chapel, as confirmed Tuesday by the spokesman of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni.
The day will begin with the Mass “Pro Eligendo Pontifice” at 10:00 local time (8:00 GMT), a solemn act in which the cardinals ask for wisdom and divine guidance for the election of the new pontiff.
How will the process be developed?
At 16:15 local time (14:15 GMT), the 133 cardinals with the right to vote – that is, those under 80 years of age – will meet in the Paolina Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.
From there, dressed in red vestments, they will march in procession to the Sistine Chapel singing the litanies.
Upon arrival they will sing the hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus”.
The day will begin with the Mass for the Election of the Pontiff
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Once inside, they will take their oath of secrecy and, after the traditional announcement of “Extra omnes” (“everybody out”) by the master of ceremonies, Diego Ravelli, the doors will be closed and the conclave will officially begin.
Rules of the conclave and participants
Buzzy
The procedure establishes that there will be up to four ballots per day -two in the morning and two in the afternoon-.
This is until one of the cardinals obtains a two-thirds vote.
The result of the conclave will be announced with the classic fumata bianca, the white smoke coming out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
Although the College of Cardinals currently has 252 members, only 135 have voting rights.
However, two of them will not participate for health reasons, among them Spanish Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, Archbishop Emeritus of Valencia.
Bruni has not specified who the second absent cardinal is.
This Tuesday the sixth general congregation was held, a pre-conclave meeting attended by 183 cardinals, including some 120 electors.
On Monday, May 5, the auxiliary personnel, such as nurses and liturgical assistants, who will collaborate during the conclave, will be sworn in.
The election of a new pope is expected in the days following the start, depending on how quickly consensus is reached.
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