Vatican Prepares for Conclave to Elect New Pope After Pope Francis' Funeral

Mourning Period for Pope Francis

• 🕊️ The official 9-day mourning period for Pope Francis began on Saturday following his funeral.
• 📍 Pope Francis opted for burial in St. Mary Major Basilica, a church he frequently visited, marking a departure from tradition as no pope has been laid to rest outside the Vatican in over a century.

Cardinal Gathering and Public Tributes

• 👥 Cardinals gathered at Rome's St. Mary Major Basilica on Sunday, with many set to participate in the upcoming conclave.
• 👏 Thousands of people lined up over the weekend to pay their respects to Pope Francis, remembering him as a simple and beloved man.
• 💬 Cardinal Dolan described the funeral mass in St. Peter's Square as inspirational, noting the huge crowd and the moving procession through the city.

The Conclave to Elect a New Pope

• ⛪ Church rules mandate that the conclave to select the next pope must occur within 15 to 20 days of the pope's death.
• 🗓️ This means the election process is expected to begin by the second week of May.
• 🔒 The 135 cardinal electors will convene in the Sistine Chapel, shutting themselves off from the world for rounds of voting.
• 🌍 The world will await the signal of white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating a new pope has been chosen.