The Catholic Church is gearing up for a papal conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88, prompting cardinals worldwide to converge on Vatican City.
While the exact conclave date remains unconfirmed, Vatican protocol mandates it begin within 15 to 20 days of the pope’s death, likely between May 6 and May 11, 2025, according to NPR and The Guardian. The process, one of the world’s most secretive democratic exercises, will see 135 cardinal electors under age 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel to choose the next leader of 1.4 billion Catholics.
Following Francis’ death, the College of Cardinals, led by Dean Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, is holding General Congregation meetings to finalize the conclave’s start, as reported by Pulse Nigeria. These meetings allow cardinals to discuss the Church’s challenges, from declining European congregations to growth in Africa and Asia. The conclave will commence with a “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by a procession to the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals swear a secrecy oath under threat of excommunication. Voting begins with the cry “Extra omnes” (everyone out), sealing the chapel, per Vatican rules cited by NPR.
Cardinals will vote up to four times daily, requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the pope. Ballots are burned after each session, with black smoke signaling no decision and white smoke announcing a new pontiff, a tradition aided by chemical additives, per Pulse Nigeria. Francis appointed 80% of the electors, diversifying the college with 39% from Europe, 18% from Asia, 18% from Latin America, and 12% from sub-Saharan Africa, according to The Guardian. Potential candidates include Vatican diplomat Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, though betting markets remain speculative, per AFP.
The conclave’s outcome is unpredictable, with Francis’ progressive legacy—emphasizing inclusivity and climate action—pitted against conservative calls for orthodoxy from figures like U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke, as noted by The Guardian. Nigeria’s Peter Cardinal Okpaleke, Bishop of Ekwulobia, is among the electors, marking him as the sole Nigerian voter, per Pulse Nigeria. Recent conclaves, like Francis’ 2013 election, lasted two days, but historical ones spanned months. The Church faces pressure to act swiftly amid global challenges, with the new pope expected to address issues like secularism and interfaith dialogue.