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7h ago

Papal Conclave to Elect Successor to Pope Francis Set for May 7

The College of Cardinals will convene in the Sistine Chapel following the nine-day mourning period for the late pontiff, whose tomb has drawn thousands of mourners in Rome.

A white rose is placed on Pope Francis' tomb in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
Cardinals attend the Vespers prayers after visiting the tomb of Pope Francis in Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), in Rome, Italy, April 27, 2025. Francesco Sforza/Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS
FILE - Tables and chairs line the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in preparation for the conclave, on April 16, 2005. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito, File)
Hundreds of people waited in line to pay their respects to the late Pope Francis.

Overview

  • Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, was buried in a private ceremony at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, breaking with the tradition of Vatican interment.
  • The nine-day mourning period, known as Novemdiales, is underway, with thousands visiting his tomb, marked simply as 'Franciscus,' at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
  • The Vatican has confirmed the papal conclave will begin on May 7, with 135 cardinal-electors under the age of 80 voting in secrecy to select the next pope.
  • Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State and a close collaborator of Francis, is considered a leading candidate to succeed him.
  • The conclave will reflect ideological divisions within the College of Cardinals, with questions over whether the next pope will continue Francis's reformist legacy or adopt a more traditional approach.