Following the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church is set to elect a new pope through a centuries-old tradition marked by solemnity and secrecy.

The College of Cardinals has convened in Rome for general congregations to assess the church’s needs. With the “sede vacante” (“the seat being vacant”) period underway, the papal office is officially empty.

Cardinals under 80 will enter the conclave on May 7 in the Sistine Chapel. Bound by strict secrecy, they will cast handwritten ballots in repeated rounds of voting. The ballots will be burned immediately afterward. Black smoke from the chapel chimney means no decision; white smoke signals that a new pope has been chosen.

Once a cardinal receives a two-thirds majority, he is asked to accept and select a papal name. The church then announces: “Habemus papam!” — “We have a pope!”


don@heraldcorp.com