What Is A Papal Conclave? Who Usually Becomes Pope, And What's Its Election Process?

It is now the official mourning period with the end of Pope Francis. The eyes of the Catholic world turn to Vatican City for the Papal Conclave, in which powerful members of the Catholic Church come together to select the next Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

Cardinals (priests at a high level in the Catholic Church) across the globe are gathered to elect the 267th pope, who will take up the spiritual leadership responsibility over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. Pope Francis, who passed away on 21 April 2025, at the age of 88, concluded 12 years of papacy (authority of the Pope) marked by his humanity, reform, and outreach.

What is a Papal Conclave?

The word conclave is derived from the Latin phrase “con clavis”, which translates to “with a key” which reflects the age-old tradition of locking the cardinals in a secure space until a new pope is chosen. In the Roman Catholic Church, a papal conclave is a completely confidential and sacred assembly where members of the College of Cardinals come together to elect the next pope. These cardinals, often referred to as the "princes of the Church", follow a deeply symbolic and historic process that dates back to the Middle Ages.

Although the methods have changed over time, the present-day election procedures are mainly guided by the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, which was introduced by Pope John Paul II in 1996, with some other updates by Pope Benedict XVI.

Only cardinals who are under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the conclave, although older cardinals can still participate in the discussions. At present, there are 135 cardinals qualified to cast their votes.

Who Usually Becomes Pope?

In Catholic belief and faith, the pope is the successor of Saint Peter, the first bishop of Rome and a key devotee of Jesus. This role gives him the highest spiritual authority in the Church to supervise the matters of faith, morals, and leadership.

While Pope Francis highlights that authority comes from Christ, he is widely seen as a global moral voice. As Father Francis Lucas notes, the pope speaks for 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

Beyond leading ritual and spirituality at St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope engages with world leaders and serves as the bishop of Rome, regularly meeting with thousands of bishops to guide the Church’s direction.

How Is a New Pope Elected?

The process of electing a new pope is steeped in tradition and symbolism. It typically begins with a morning Mass, after which the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel in the afternoon. Once inside, the chapel is sealed, ensuring that only the cardinals and essential support staff remain, completely cut off from the outside world.

On the first day, the cardinals cast just one vote. From the second day onwards, they hold two voting sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Each cardinal writes their chosen candidate’s name on a paper ballot, beginning with the phrase Elijo como Supremo Pontífice—Spanish for "I elect as Supreme Pontiff." After folding the paper, they walk to the altar and place their vote in a designated urn.

This upcoming conclave is set to be the most globally diverse one in the Church’s history.

Three cardinals, selected at random, serve as vote counters. They read the names aloud and tally the results. Once counted, the ballots are stitched together and burnt in a special stove, and the smoke that rises from the chimney signals the outcome. White smoke means a pope has been elected; black smoke indicates no decision has been made.

To be chosen, a candidate needs a two-thirds majority—at least 89 of the 133 votes.

What Happens If There’s No Clear Winner?

If no one is elected after three days, the cardinals pause for a day of prayer and reflection. They then resume with seven more rounds of voting. This pattern continues up to three times. If there’s still no decision, the two candidates with the most votes go head-to-head in a final runoff, though neither can vote for themselves.

In modern times, papal elections don’t tend to drag on. Since 1846, all 12 conclaves have wrapped up within three to five days. The elections in 2005 and 2013, for example, each lasted just two days.

After a New Pope Is Chosen

Once a candidate secures the required votes, he accepts the role and chooses a new name, often inspired by a saint or spiritual ideal. For instance, Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name Francis in honour of St. Francis of Assisi.

The newly elected pope is then led to the “Room of Tears” to put on the white papal robes for the first time.

Soon after, the senior cardinal steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and proclaims: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; Habemus Papam!"— “I announce to you a great joy; we have a pope!” The new pope then makes his first public appearance and gives his initial blessing to the world.

Conclusion

With the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church enters a period of solemn transition. The Papal Conclave, a time-honoured and sacred process, will soon begin behind closed doors in Vatican City, where cardinals under 80 will cast their votes to elect the 267th pope.

This moment is not just a religious ritual—it is a defining event for 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. The next pope will inherit the spiritual authority of Saint Peter, shoulder global responsibilities, and help shape the future of the Church in a time of great change.

All eyes now turn to the Sistine Chapel, where tradition, faith, and history converge once again in choosing the next supreme pontiff.