VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has announced that a secret conclave to elect the next pope will begin on May 7, following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
The solemn and closely guarded tradition will unfold inside the Sistine Chapel, where 135 cardinals from around the world will gather to select the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The conclave will be preceded by a special Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, after which the cardinal-electors will retreat behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that once inside, the cardinals will be completely cut off from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.
Voting will commence with a single ballot on the first afternoon, followed by up to four rounds of voting each day thereafter.
A two-thirds majority is required for a candidate to be elected, a process that has historically taken just two days, as seen in the conclaves of 2005 and 2013.
The process, which has remained virtually unchanged for over 800 years, will begin with the preparation for the conclave, where the cardinal electors will gather to choose the new Pope. ynews.digital/newsflash/papa…
The centuries-old tradition of smoke signals will once again capture global attention: black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney will indicate no decision, while white smoke will herald the election of the new pontiff.
Pope Francis’ funeral, held on Saturday in St. Peter’s Square, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including heads of state and royalty.
In a moving ceremony, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, delivered a homily reflecting on the late pope’s legacy before Francis’ coffin was transported through Rome’s historic streets.
Authorities estimated that 140,000 people lined the procession route, paying their final respects as the hearse passed landmarks such as the Colosseum and the Altare della Patria.
The Pope was laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, and on Sunday, images of his tomb showed a simple stone marked with his name and a single white rose resting beneath a softly illuminated crucifix.
The Casa Santa Marta, a five-story guesthouse built in 1996 on the site of an ancient hospice for the poor, became the Pope’s residence after his election. ynews.digital/newsflash/casa…
