In brief
The Vatican has confirmed that around 135 cardinals from around the world will convene in the Sistine Chapel for a secret conclave on May 7 to elect the next pope, succeeding Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88. The conclave will commence after a solemn mass at St Peter's Basilica, where the cardinals eligible to vote will gather for a closed-ballot election process.
Following the funeral of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, the conclave's proceedings will remain under tight wraps, with the cardinals barred from communicating with the outside world until a new pope is elected. The past conclaves in 2005 and 2013 concluded within two days; however, this one may take longer, as a two-thirds majority is required for election. The voting will take place in multiple rounds each day, with only the first afternoon featuring a single vote. The iconic black and white smoke signals from the chapel chimney will signify the outcome of each voting round.The funeral of Pope Francis, held at St Peter's Square, attended by global dignitaries and thousands of mourners, saw a large procession carrying the Pope’s coffin through Rome’s historic streets amid emotional tributes. As the faithful gathered, tributes flowed in for the deceased pontiff, symbolized poignantly by a simple white rose placed on his tomb.
