The Vatican has announced the passing of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, at the age of 88. He died at 7:35 a.m. on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at his residence in the Domus Sanctae Marthae within Vatican City. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, officially confirmed the news at 9:45 a.m.

With the papacy now vacant, attention turns to the forthcoming conclave, the process by which a new pope will be elected.

How Is a New Pope Elected?

The responsibility of electing a new pope lies with the College of Cardinals. Currently, there are 252 cardinals worldwide; however, only those under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the conclave. As of April 21, 2025, this group comprises 135 cardinal electors.

The conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinal electors are sequestered from the outside world to maintain the integrity of the election process. They are prohibited from using phones, media, or having any external communication until a new pope is chosen.

The election process begins with a special Mass, after which the cardinals take an oath of secrecy. Voting occurs up to four times daily, and a two-thirds majority is required to elect the new pope. After each voting session, the ballots are burned: black smoke indicates no decision has been reached, while white smoke signals that a new pope has been elected.

Once a candidate accepts the position with the word “Accepto,” the new pope’s identity is announced to the public from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the traditional declaration, “Habemus Papam.”

The conclave is expected to commence between May 6 and May 11, 2025, adhering to the requirement that it begins no earlier than 15 days and no later than 20 days after the pope’s death.

As the Catholic Church prepares for this significant transition, the world watches with anticipation to see who will be chosen as the next spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics worldwide.