Catholic cardinals will begin the conclave to elect a new pope on May 7, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, Vatican officials confirmed Monday.
The meeting took place in Vatican City, where senior clergy decided the timeline during the first General Congregation since Pope Francis’s passing.
His funeral will take place on May 3, giving the cardinals four days before voting begins inside the Sistine Chapel.
A total of 135 cardinal-electors, all under the age of 80, will take part in the conclave.
Most of them were appointed by Francis, which may influence the direction the Church takes moving forward.
The Vatican has started preparations for the conclave, closing the Sistine Chapel to tourists and installing anti-surveillance measures to maintain secrecy.
Security remains a top priority to protect the integrity of the voting process.
Cardinals also discussed key challenges facing the Church—including financial reform, sexual abuse accountability, and divisions among conservative and progressive factions.
The Catholic Church, with 1.4 billion members worldwide, looks to the conclave for continuity or change after Francis’s death.
The outcome could shape Church policy for decades.
The Vatican will provide regular updates as the conclave nears, while global attention shifts to who will become the next spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
135 cardinals under the age of 80, all appointed by Pope Francis, will vote in the conclave. These cardinals are eligible to elect the new pope.
The conclave will decide who will lead the Catholic Church after the death of Pope Francis. This election will determine the future direction of the Church.
The Vatican has implemented anti-surveillance measures in the Sistine Chapel. These measures ensure the voting process remains confidential and secure.
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