VATICAN CITY – The world’s most secretive election is underway as 133 cardinals from around the globe entered the Vatican today for the historic 2025 Conclave, gathering beneath Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel to select the next pope following the death of Pope Francis.
The solemn proceedings mark a centuries-old tradition dating back to 1276. From the moment the doors to the chapel close and the command extra omnes (“everyone out”) is declared, the cardinal electors are cut off from the outside world until a successor to Pope Francis is chosen.
Cardinals from 70 countries arrived under intense media scrutiny, waving to onlookers but remaining silent, in keeping with the strict code of secrecy that governs the Conclave. Each will stay within the Vatican grounds, mostly at the Santa Marta guesthouse and, for the first time due to crowding, some at the adjacent Santa Marta Vecchia.
Preparations for this election began swiftly after the April 21 death of Pope Francis, whose 12-year papacy was marked by sweeping reforms and polarizing decisions. Though Francis appointed roughly 80% of the current voting cardinals, Vatican observers caution that the next pope may not continue his progressive legacy. With no time limit set on the process, the cardinals could remain locked in deliberation for days or even weeks.
The word “Conclave” stems from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key”—a nod to the physical and symbolic seclusion of the electors. Communication is strictly prohibited. As of Wednesday at 3 p.m., all phone signals within the Vatican were jammed. No recording devices or phones are permitted; any breach of this protocol results in immediate excommunication.
The Voting Process
The formal Conclave begins Wednesday afternoon after the cardinal electors celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. Dressed in traditional scarlet and white vestments, they process into the Pauline Chapel and then the Sistine Chapel, invoking the Holy Spirit to guide their decision.
Inside the Sistine Chapel—swept for bugs and shielded from surveillance—the election begins with an oath of secrecy. Ballots inscribed with Eligo in Summum Pontificem (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”) are distributed. Electors write the name of their chosen candidate and, one by one, cast their votes into a silver urn after swearing their intent before God.
The voting follows strict protocol. Scrutineers count the votes and string the ballots together. If no one receives a two-thirds majority, the ballots are burned, releasing black smoke from the chapel’s chimney to signal no decision. White smoke signals the successful election of a new pope.
The process continues with up to four voting sessions daily. If no pope is elected after several rounds, the cardinals pause for prayer and reflection, with additional procedures allowing for a final run-off between the two leading candidates if needed.
Historical Context and Expectations
This Conclave is the most international in Church history, reflecting Catholicism’s global reach. While many cardinals were chosen by Pope Francis, the choice for his successor may pivot toward conservatism amid calls for doctrinal clarity and a firmer stance on traditional teachings.
Historically, conclaves have varied in duration. The 2013 election of Francis lasted two days; the longest on record, in 1268, stretched to nearly three years. That delay led to the tradition of locking up cardinals—locals in Viterbo once removed the roof of the church to force a decision.
As the cardinals now deliberate in silence and prayer, Catholics around the world wait in anticipation. The moment the white smoke rises, signaling Habemus Papam (“We have a pope”), a new chapter in the history of the Roman Catholic Church will begin.
