Papal Conclave

When the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the pope, dies or resigns, a special event called a conclave is held to choose a new one. On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis passed away, which caused the Catholic Church to prepare to elect a new pope. This process is deeply rooted in tradition and takes place in Vatican City, where cardinals from around the world come together to vote.

Only cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to vote in the conclave. There are usually around 120 of them, and they gather in the Sistine Chapel. Before the voting starts, they swear an oath of secrecy and are cut off from the outside world with no phones, internet, or contact with anyone who isn’t part of the process.

Voting takes place twice a day, and a two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pope. After each round of voting, the ballots are burned in a special stove. If no one is elected, chemicals are added to produce black smoke, signaling to the world that the Church is still deciding. When a pope is chosen, the smoke turns white. That’s how people know a new leader has been picked. Soon after, the new pope steps out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and is introduced with the words “Habemus Papam,” which means “We have a pope.” He then gives his first blessing to the crowd below and to Catholics watching around the world.