Pope Francis' Cause of Death, Burial Plans, and Papal Conclave Process Explained

Cause of Death and Burial Arrangements

• 💔 Pope Francis died from a cerebral stroke, which led to a coma and subsequent heart failure.
• 🕊️ Contrary to tradition, he requested to be buried not within the Vatican, but at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome.

The Papal Conclave Process

• 🔑 The process to elect a new pope is known as a conclave, meaning "with key," signifying voting in top secret.
• 🗳️ Only cardinals under 80 years old are eligible to vote, with a maximum of 120 spots available.
• 📜 Cardinal electors pledge an oath of absolute secrecy before being sealed inside the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

Election and Announcement

• ✍️ Each cardinal writes their choice on paper, which is placed in a chalice and read aloud.
• ⚖️ A two-thirds majority is required for an individual to be chosen as pope.
• 🔥 Ballots are burned after counting, producing either black smoke (no pope elected) or white smoke (pope elected).
• 📢 Once elected, the new pope chooses a papal name, and a cardinal announces "Habemus Papam" (We have a Pope) from the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square.