A papal conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor will begin on May 7, according to a Vatican insider. The announcement follows the late pontiff’s funeral on Saturday, which drew thousands of mourners from around the globe.
About 135 cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the highly secretive election, a tradition that spans centuries. They will converge in Rome and cast their ballots inside the Sistine Chapel, following ancient customs.
While the process remains tightly guarded, a few frontrunners have emerged, including Italy’s Pietro Parolin, the Philippines’ Luis Antonio Tagle, Hungary’s Peter Erdo, and Ghana’s Peter Turkson.
During the conclave, the cardinals are locked inside until a new pope is chosen.
Voting continues in multiple rounds, with a two-thirds majority needed to declare a winner. After each round, the ballots are burned; black smoke signals no decision has been reached, while white smoke announces the election of a new pope.
The conclave’s timing fits within the traditional 15-to-20 day period after a pope’s death. Pope Francis passed away last Monday at age 88, shortly after making his final public appearance on Easter Sunday. He had served as pope since 2013, following the resignation of Benedict XVI.
Stay tuned for updates.
