The College of Cardinals has officially announced that the conclave to elect the 267th pope will commence on May 7, following the death and burial of Pope Francis. This announcement was made on Monday, April 28, after a General Congregation meeting at the Vatican, marking the start of the final phase in selecting his successor.
The conclave will take place in the historic Sistine Chapel, where 134 cardinal electors under the age of 80 will cast their votes beneath Michelangelo’s renowned frescoes. In keeping with tradition, the cardinals will first celebrate the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff at St. Peter’s Basilica before processing solemnly into the chapel, chanting “Veni Creator Spiritus” to invoke the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Once inside, each cardinal will take an oath of secrecy and vote freely for the candidate they believe is most suited to lead the Church. The chapel doors will then be sealed until a new pope is elected, requiring a two-thirds majority of at least 90 votes to declare a winner.
Vatican officials have confirmed that nearly all eligible electors have arrived in Rome, with the remaining few expected shortly. The May 7 start date falls within the traditional 15–20 day window following a pope’s death, allowing for the nine-day novendiales mourning period and international travel.
The world will closely watch for the iconic chimney smoke: black for no decision, white for the election of a new pope. This conclave follows Pope Francis’s significant reshaping of the College of Cardinals, having appointed 108 of the 134 electors and enhancing global representation, particularly from regions that have been historically underrepresented in papal elections.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over the proceedings, which are anticipated to be one of the most globally diverse conclaves in Church history.
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