On May 7, 2025, the Catholic Church began the process to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88. The Conclave, held in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican, gathers 133 cardinals under 80 years of age from 71 countries.
This is the largest and most diverse event in its recent history.
How does the Conclave unfold?
The conclave began with the Mass “Pro eligendo Pontifice” in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Afterwards, the cardinals moved in procession to the Sistine Chapel, where they took the oath of absolute secrecy.
Once the phrase “Extra omnes” was pronounced, the doors were closed and total isolation began.
Voting is conducted in secret, with up to four sessions per day: two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Each cardinal writes the name of his candidate on a ballot and places it in a ballot box.
For a candidate to be elected, he/she must obtain at least 89 votes, equivalent to two-thirds of the total.
After each round of voting, the ballots are burned along with chemicals that produce smoke.
Black smoke indicates that no consensus has been reached, while white smoke announces the election of a new Pope.
Possible successors
Buzzy
Among the names that sound strongly are Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, current Vatican Secretary of State.
Also the Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization and the French Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille.
The election could reflect a continuity with Francis’ reformist legacy or a shift towards more conservative positions.
Although the deliberations are secret, it is possible to follow live coverage through Vatican Media on YouTube, as well as on channels such as CNN en Español and Telemundo.
The most awaited signal is the white smoke, which can be observed from St. Peter’s Square and which will be transmitted in real time by these media.
What happens after the election?
Once elected, the new Pope retires to the “Hall of Tears” to dress in papal vestments.
Afterwards, the Cardinal Protodeacon, Dominique Mamberti, will announce the election to the world with the phrase “Habemus Papam” from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The conclave begins with the Mass for the election of the Pontiff in St. Peter's Basilica
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The new pontiff will give his first blessing “Urbi et Orbi” to the faithful present and to all those following the event through the media.
This Conclave is not only an event of great religious importance, but also a moment of reflection on the future direction of the Catholic Church in an ever-changing world.
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