Conclave to start on 7 May to elect new pope

Cardinals are expected to meet on 7 May, as conclave will begin the process to elect a new pope. 

Conclaves have no specific timeframes, as the process ends when a person receives two-thirds of voting cardinals.

The conclave follows Pope Francis’s death last week. He was laid to rest at the Basilica of St Mary Major on Saturday after a funeral service in the Vatican. 

He died following a stroke that led to a coma and heart failure a day after Easter Sunday.

On 7 May, the College of Cardinals, comprising 138 electors under the age of 80 from 71 countries, will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave to elect the new pope.

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The Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public until the end of conclave.

Traditionally, the conclave begins 15 to 20 days after the pope's death, however, a reform introduced by Pope Francis in 2024 allows for an earlier start if all electors are present.

The cardinals will cast their votes secretly. 

Once a new pope is elected, white smoke will rise from a chimney installed in the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke indicates that the vote is inconclusive.