The Vatican has officially announced that the conclave to elect the late Pope Francis’ successor will begin on Wednesday, May 7.
Cardinals from around the world are expected to gather at the Vatican to start the solemn process of choosing the Catholic Church’s 267th leader.
The announcement follows the death of Pope Francis, who led the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years. His passing has now turned global attention to the important task of selecting a new spiritual leader for the world’s more than 1.3 billion Catholics.
As tradition dictates, a conclave—held in the Sistine Chapel behind closed doors—will be convened. The cardinals will vote in secrecy until a new pope is chosen, a process that could take days or longer, depending on the outcome of successive ballots.
The Catholic Church last witnessed a conclave in 2013, when Pope Francis was elected following the unprecedented resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict had stepped down, citing age and declining health, marking the first papal resignation in nearly six centuries.
The coming conclave is expected to draw intense interest globally, as the Church faces significant challenges and opportunities in an increasingly complex world.
