Cardinals of the Catholic Church are gathering today, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, inside the Sistine Chapel for the start of the secretive process to elect the next Pope. One hundred thirty-three cardinal electors will participate in the ballot to choose the successor to Pope Francis.
The electors begin the process by proceeding into the Sistine Chapel. They take an oath of secrecy before Cardinal Diego Giovanni Ravelli, master for papal liturgical celebrations, announces “extra omnes,” signaling that only those involved in the voting may remain inside.
Voting takes place by secret ballot. A two-thirds majority is required for a candidate to be elected. After each voting session, the ballots are burned in a special furnace, producing smoke that is visible from outside the Apostolic Palace. Black smoke indicates no decision has been reached, while white smoke signals a new Pope has been chosen.The 133 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, represent the diversity of the global church, though Europe still holds the largest bloc. Pope Francis appointed 108 of the current electors, shaping the composition of the voting body. Cardinals from Africa, Asia, and Latin America constitute a larger proportion than in previous conclaves, reflecting Catholicism's growth outside Europe.
The next Pope will face existing challenges within the church, including budgetary issues and ongoing fallout from the sex abuse scandal. The election follows a period where the church engaged with contemporary social issues, prompting debate over its future direction.
Consideration is underway whether the new Pope will continue the approach of Pope Francis or potentially return to a more traditional stance. This debate exists among church elders and observers outside the Vatican.
Measures to ensure secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel include sweeping for listening devices and prohibiting communication with the outside world, including the use of cellphones. The cardinals will reside in St. Martha House during the Conclave.
While some conclaves have lasted days, recent elections have concluded relatively quickly. The historical longest conclave took nearly three years in the 13th century, leading to the term Conclave, meaning "with key," referencing the locking in of cardinals.
Potential front-runners for the papacy are being discussed, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle. However, the outcome of any Conclave can be unpredictable.
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako reportedly commented on the expected duration of the process at the Vatican last week.
"It will be a short conclave, two, three days," Sako said.
