Cardinals gather May 7 for historic papal conclave
The Reuters agency, citing its sources, reported that the conclave where cardinal electors will choose the successor to Pope Francis will take place on May 7.
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, which, according to canon law, means that the conclave must start no earlier than 15 days after his death. According to Reuters, the cardinal electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025, to elect the new pope.
Initially, 135 cardinals from 71 countries were eligible to participate. However, Cardinals Antonio Canizares Llovera from Spain and Vinko Puljić from Bosnia and Herzegovina announced that they would not participate in the conclave due to health reasons. This decision means that the number of cardinals participating in the election of the new pope has decreased to 133.
Conclave. How is a new pope chosen?
Conclave (from Latin cum clave — "with a key") is the procedure for electing a new pope by the cardinals of the Catholic Church. Although today it is associated with the solemn ritual in the Sistine Chapel, its history is full of dramatic turns, political tensions, and reforms that have shaped the modern rules for the election of the Bishop of Rome.
During the conclave, cardinal electors are isolated from the outside world. They cannot use media, conduct correspondence, or contact individuals outside the Vatican. The process of electing the pope is strictly controlled, and all audiovisual devices are prohibited. After each vote that does not result in a decision, the ballots are burned, and the smoke rising above the Sistine Chapel informs the world of the outcome.
