Reuters: Papal Conclave to Begin as Vatican Convenes Consistory on May 7 | WPN World People News

On April 28, the Vatican announced that the papal conclave to elect a new pope will begin on May 7. The conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel and may last several days. Prior to this, more than 180 cardinals had been engaged in informal meetings in Rome, where they reached a consensus to convene the conclave. According to the Vatican’s official website, as of April 6, there are 252 cardinals worldwide. Of the 135 cardinals under the age of 80 eligible to vote, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis.

On the opening day, the cardinals will attend a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, to pray for the election. That afternoon, eligible cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave. To elect a new pope, a two-thirds majority vote is required—a process that could take several days.

To prepare for the conclave, the Sistine Chapel was closed on April 29. Voting will begin with one round on the first afternoon, followed by two rounds each morning and afternoon on subsequent days. Black smoke from the chapel’s chimney will signal an inconclusive vote, while white smoke will indicate that a new pope has been elected. Once elected, a solemn papal inauguration ceremony will follow, during which the new pontiff will formally take possession of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and confront various challenges, including the Vatican’s financial crisis.