Pope Francis died on Monday morning, Vatican officials confirmed. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo responsible for overseeing Church matters between papacies, made the announcement, saying: “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church.” He added that Francis had taught the world to live the Gospel with courage and compassion, especially for the poor and marginalised.
‘ Pope Francis has returned to the house of the Father ‘: Vatican in film statement- follow sit improvements
With the pope then vacant, the Catholic Church enters a grave and ancient transition period. The vote of a new bishop is overseen by the College of Cardinals, who will collect in Rome for a mysterious conference known as the conference. The conference has long been the conventional method by which a bishop is selected.
Who is vote?
Just cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the apostolic conference. As of April 2025, there are 137 chiefs who may take part in the next election. The best cover is 120, but rulers can reach this quantity at their choice.
Poll
Do you think the future pope should prioritize worldwide concerns over traditional religion things?
The conference, which takes place in the Sistine Chapel, is conducted under strict confidentiality. Each friar swears an oath never to disclose everything discussed or decided during the election process. Breaching this vow results in involuntary condemnation.
How the election runs
The vote follows a very structured and metaphorical procedure:
- Secrecy Vow: All entitled cardinals swear to uphold complete privacy.
- Elections: Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a slip of paper and places it into a bowl.
- Tallying: Votes are read loudly and tallied. A two-thirds lot is required for a member to get elected pope.
- Smoke Signs: If no candidate wins, the votes are burned with pesticides to make black smoke—signalling an ineffective vote. White dust indicates a new pope has been chosen.
- Many Rounds: Two shells of voting taking place each morning and afternoon. If prolonged stalemate occurs, the laws may become adjusted to allow for a simple majority.
How long does it take?
Conference length varies. Some last only a morning; some take more. The shortest on record was in 1503 when Pope Julius II was elected within days. The longest took nearly three years ( 1268–1271 ). More new conclaves—such as those of Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013—concluded in just one or two weeks.
