By Kavita Mistry 
Following Pope Francis’ death on April 21, 133 cardinals from around the world will convene within the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Wednesday (May 7, 2025), to elect the next pope in the Papal Conclave 2025. As it chooses the 267th pope, this momentous occasion represents a major change for the Catholic Church.
With the world’s attention focused on Rome, there is widespread conjecture about the top candidates, how this covert process will proceed and who might become the future spiritual leader of more than 1.3 billion Catholics throughout the world.
What is the voting process?
Voting begins with a morning Mass, followed by an afternoon entry into the Sistine Chapel. The chapel is then sealed to ensure that only the electors and essential staff remain, cut off from the outside world.
Cardinals cast a single vote on the first day. Two ballots are held in the morning and two in the afternoon starting on the second day.
On a piece of paper, each vote is scribbled with the words Elijo como Supremo Pontífice, which translates to “I elect as Supreme Pontiff,” and the name of the candidate. After being folded, ballots are then taken to the altar and placed in a chosen urn.
Each vote is counted and read out by three scrutineers, who are randomly selected cardinals. Ballots are burned in a stove after being stitched together with a needle. The outcome is shown by the colour of the smoke signals coming from the chapel chimney: white smoke indicates a successful election, while black smoke indicates no decision.
To win, a candidate must get a two-thirds majority – at least 89 votes out of 133.
Watch: How is a new Pope chosen? | Explained
What if no Pope is chosen?
If no pope is chosen within three days, the cardinals take a day of prayer and thought. Seven additional ballots are then cast. After three iterations of this cycle, the two leading candidates, who are unable to cast their own ballots, enter a runoff election.
Conclaves have rarely lasted long in modern history. In fact, the 12 pope elections that have taken place since 1846 have concluded in three to five days.
Both the 2005 and 2013 Conclaves were short, lasting only two days each.
What happens after the new Pope is chosen?
After a new pope is chosen, he accepts the position and decides on a papal name that represents his vision or inspiration. The previous pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, chose Francis as his papal name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
In the “Room of Tears,” the new pope dons his white papal garments.
Following this, the senior cardinal declares, “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; HabemusPapam!” (“I announce to you a great joy; we have a pope!”) from St Peter’s Basilica’s balcony, and the new pope appears to give his first public blessing.
Published – May 07, 2025 01:36 pm IST