Overview

• The conclave to elect the next pope begins on May 7, with 133 cardinals under age 80 participating as electors, the largest group in history.
• Pope Francis's death on April 21 triggered the election process; 108 of the electors were appointed during his reformist 12-year pontificate.
• Dean Giovanni Battista Re will open the conclave with a morning mass, followed by a procession and the first ballot in the afternoon.
• Cardinals enter the conclave divided on doctrinal issues and Church priorities, reflecting tensions between progressive and conservative visions.
• Recent predictions suggest the election could conclude within three days, though historical conclave durations have varied significantly.