The Catholic Church has begun the process of selecting a new pope. 133 cardinals gathered at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. They started the conclave, a secret meeting to choose the next pope after Pope Francis’ death on April 21.
Before the conclave began, the cardinals sang hymns under Michelangelo’s famous ceiling paintings. They prayed the 1,000-year-old song “Veni, creator Spiritus” to ask the Holy Spirit to guide them. The cardinals then took an oath to keep everything that happens during the conclave secret. After that, they said “extra omnes,” meaning everyone not involved must leave. The Sistine Chapel doors were then closed, and the cardinals started voting.
To keep the conclave secret, the Vatican is jamming phone and internet signals around the Sistine Chapel. The cardinals had their phones and electronic devices taken away on Tuesday and won’t get them back until the conclave is over.
How the Conclave Works
The cardinals will vote twice a day. They’ll burn the used ballots, and the smoke will be visible to people outside the Vatican. The color of the smoke indicates the result. Black smoke means they haven’t chosen a new pope yet. White smoke means they’ve made a decision.
The conclave will continue until a new pope is elected. The cardinals will stay in the Sistine Chapel until they’re done voting. They’ll follow a long-standing tradition to choose the next leader of the Catholic Church.
Source: CNN