Vatican sets May 7 as start date for conclave to elect next pope

The Vatican has confirmed that the process to elect the next pope will begin next month with a secret conclave.

Starting on May 7, approximately 135 cardinals from around the globe will gather in the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes.

This conclave follows the passing of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. His funeral was held on Saturday, and the process to select his successor will now commence.

Although there is no official estimate for how long the conclave will take, historical precedent suggests the process could be swift. The conclaves of 2005 and 2013, which led to the elections of Popes Benedict XVI and Francis, respectively, each lasted just two days.

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni shared that the cardinals will first attend a solemn mass at St. Peter's Basilica. After the mass, those eligible to vote will move to the Sistine Chapel to begin the closed-door election process. From that moment, the cardinals will have no contact with the outside world until a new pope is chosen.

On the first afternoon of the conclave, only one vote will be cast. Following that, voting will occur up to four times a day until a new pope is elected. A candidate must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes to secure the papacy, which may take several rounds of voting.

The cardinals will cast their votes on simple cards, inscribed with the Latin phrase, "I elect as Supreme Pontiff," followed by the name of their chosen candidate.

If a decision has not been reached by the third day of the conclave, the cardinals may pause for a day of prayer.

Outside the Sistine Chapel, the world will be closely watching for the smoke signal from the chapel’s chimney. Black smoke indicates that the cardinals have not yet reached a decision, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope.