A centuries-old ritual will unfold on Wednesday as Roman Catholic cardinals gather in the Vatican to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis.
The conclave—derived from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key”—involves locking the cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel until a successor is chosen. White smoke and the ringing of bells will signal to the world that a new pontiff has been elected.
Strict Secrecy
The cardinals will take an oath of secrecy and be cut off from all external communication, including newspapers, television, mail, and digital devices. The election will be held under the iconic ceiling frescoes of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.
While any baptized male Catholic is theoretically eligible for the papacy, only members of the College of Cardinals are expected to be considered.
Voting Process
The first vote will take place on Wednesday, with up to four ballots held on each following day. Ballot slips are cast anonymously, and cardinals are encouraged to disguise their handwriting.
Votes are burned after each round. Black smoke from the chapel chimney signals no decision, while white smoke marks a successful election.
A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pope. If no decision is reached after three days, proceedings pause briefly for prayer and informal dialogue before resuming.
Modern Vatican guesthouse
During the conclave, cardinals will reside in Saint Martha House, a modern Vatican guesthouse. This is a significant change from previous centuries when they stayed in austere quarters in the Apostolic Palace.
Voting materials include three urns—one for casting ballots, one for counting, and one for cardinals who are too ill to attend in person.
Once elected, the new pope is asked whether he accepts the role and what name he will take. He assumes office immediately upon acceptance.
A Global Announcement
Once the decision is made, the cardinal protodeacon—currently French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti—will step onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica and declare: “Habemus papam” (We have a pope).
The new leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics will then make his first public appearance.
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