BREAKING NEWS 🚨 The new pope has just been announced…See more
The last 10 popes of the Catholic Church
Only senior Catholic leaders known as cardinals – who must be under 80 – are eligible to vote, and the choice of a new pontiff is seen as both a duty and a spiritual responsibility.
Conclaves have been held for centuries, following strict rules designed to protect secrecy and prevent outside influence.
The word “conclave” comes from the Latin cum clave – meaning “with a key” – reflecting the tradition of locking the cardinals away.
Since the 15th Century, elections have taken place inside the Sistine Chapel, beneath its famous Renaissance frescoes.
The last conclave, in 2013, elected Pope Francis after just five rounds of voting, making it one of the quicker decisions in modern times.
In earlier centuries, however, disagreements between factions sometimes caused conclaves to stretch on for months.
This time, cardinals will gather once again in Vatican City, an independent state within the heart of Rome, to choose the 267th pope. St Peter, regarded as the first pope in Catholic tradition, was elected around the year 30AD.
Once a new pope is chosen, he will be asked if he accepts the role and the name he wishes to take.
The result will be announced with the appearance of white smoke rising above the Sistine Chapel, signalling that a new pope has been elected.
Until then, the Catholic Church remains in the Sede vacante period, awaiting its next leader.
What does the Pope do?
The Pope leads the Catholic Church and is celebrated as St Peter’s successor, giving him authority over its 1.4 billion followers. Catholics believe this connects him directly to Jesus Christ, making him a key source of spiritual guidance.
Alongside the Bible, his teachings help shape the Church’s beliefs and practices. Other Christian denominations, such as Protestants and Orthodox Christians, do not recognise his authority.
Choosing the pontiff
Following Francis’ death, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, had 15 to 20 days to summon the cardinals to Rome.
