How the Next Pope is Chosen: Inside the Secret Conclave

Pope Francis's Funeral Rites

• 🕊️ Following Pope Francis's death, a series of traditional rites will take place, culminating in the election of a new pontiff.
• 🏛️ On Wednesday, his body will be transferred to St. Peter's Basilica to lie in state until Saturday, with large crowds expected to pay their respects.
• 🌍 The funeral on Saturday will attract heads of state and royalty from around the world, including confirmed attendees like Donald Trump and the presidents of France and Brazil.
• 📍 In a rare move, Pope Francis requested to be buried in the Basilica de Santa Maria Major in Rome, reflecting his desire for a humble and quiet end.
• 📜 He also streamlined his funeral, opting for a simple wooden and zinc coffin, a departure from the traditional three-coffin burial.

The Secret Conclave Process

• 🤫 The election of a new pope occurs after nine days of official mourning, in a highly secretive process known as a conclave.
• ⛪ Cardinals under the age of 80, known as cardinal electors (currently 138), are confined to the Sistine Chapel.
• 🚫 They are completely cut off from the outside world, with no phones or internet, to ensure focus on the presence of the Holy Spirit.
• 🗳️ Voting begins with one ballot on the first day, followed by two in the morning and two in the afternoon. A two-thirds majority is required for a cardinal to be elected pope.
• ⏳ If a two-thirds majority isn't reached after 15 days, the requirement changes to a 50% plus one vote.
• 🔥 After each vote, the ballot papers are burned. Black smoke indicates no conclusive winner, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope.
• 📣 The announcement of a new pope will be met with cheers from hundreds of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square.