The Catholic Church is gearing up for a historic event: the selection of a new pope, as all 133 Catholic Cardinals eligible to vote arrived in Rome on Monday, ahead of the conclave.
This significant process began after the death of Pope Francis of the 21st of April 2025.
The 133 Cardinals will enter into seclusion in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to vote in secret until one of them secures the required two-thirds majority to become the next head of the Roman Catholic Church.
They will vote four times a day until a new Pope is chosen and are not allowed to have any contact with outside world until they have made their choice.
Once a new pope is elected, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks if he accepts his election. If accepted, the new pope chooses a papal name, which often sends a message about his papacy’s tone and direction.
The only hint of progress will come from the smoke emanating from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney: black smoke indicates no decision, while white smoke signals a successful election.
Once the new pope is chosen, he’ll make his first public appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the senior cardinal deacon will announce his name to the world.
The conclave begins on Wednesday afternoon and can continue for days, weeks or even months.
