What we know ahead of election of a new pope

Apr 24, 2025

By AFP, Vatican City
Pope Francis, who died this week at age 88 of a stroke at the Vatican, will be buried on April 26.

World leaders and worshippers will be present at his funeral before a conclave of cardinals is convened to elect a successor.

Here's what we know about the processes leading up to the election of a new pope.

The starting date of the conclave, during which 135 so-called "cardinal electors" will choose Francis' successor, is not yet known.

But it should begin no less than 15 and no more than 20 days after the death of the pope -- thus between May 5 and May 10.

The cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel, a Renaissance jewel adorned with Michelangelo's celebrated frescoes, and hold four ballots a day -- two in the morning and two in the afternoon -- until one candidate wins two-thirds of the votes.

At the end of each session, the ballots are burned in a stove by the chapel, releasing smoke above the Apostolic Palace as the world watches.

If black smoke billows from a chimney overlooking St Peter's Square, the vote has been unsuccessful.

White smoke signals a new pope has been elected.

The camerlengo is the senior cardinal who runs the Vatican's day-to-day operations between the death of one pope and the election of his successor.

Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell is the current camerlengo.

Part of his role is to lead the cardinal meetings, known as "general congregations", where decisions are made about the pope's funeral and the upcoming conclave.

He is the only top Vatican official to retain his position following the death of a pope.

The rest of the Vatican's Roman Curia are obliged to resign following the pope's death.

A first general congregation of some 60 cardinals took place on April 22 when the funeral date was chosen. A second meeting was due on April 23 afternoon.--ucanews.com