At 4:30 p.m. today, cardinal electors will solemnly enter the Sistine Chapel, opening the #conclave and the election of the 267th pope in Church history. The whole world is watching this event – what should you know about it?
What is a conclave?
A conclave is a closed assembly of cardinals at which a new pope is elected. In 2025, 133 electors from around the world take part in it, cut off from contact with the outside world until the decision is announced.
Tradition and secrecy
The conclave takes place in the famous Sistine Chapel. Cardinals take an oath of secrecy, and all electronic devices are blocked to ensure the complete confidentiality of the process. It is the most closely guarded election in the world – even staff and doctors are bound to silence.
How is a pope elected?
The election begins with a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, after which the cardinals process to the Sistine Chapel. There they sing the hymn „Veni Creator Spiritus” and take an oath.
Schedule for the first day
- 10:00 – Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica
- 16:15 – gathering in the Pauline Chapel
- 16:30 – solemn entrance into the Sistine Chapel
- approx. 17:00 – first ballot
Voting rules
- Each cardinal writes the name of a candidate on a slip of paper and places it in the urn.
- Electing a pope requires a two-thirds majority, which this year means at least 89 out of 133 votes.
- After each ballot the ballots are burned – black smoke signals no election, while white smoke announces a new pope to the world.
What if a pope cannot be elected?
If there is no result after three days, a day of prayer and discussion follows. Then the cycle of ballots repeats until a result is reached. Today, a conclave usually lasts from a few hours to a few days.
Who elects the pope?
In 2025, the electors are cardinals under the age of 80, representing all continents. Most come from Europe, but Africa, Asia and both Americas also have a strong representation.
Why does the conclave arouse such emotions?
The election of a pope is not only a religious decision, but also an event of enormous social and political significance. The new pope will lead 1.4 billion Catholics and will have an influence on global discussions about values, peace and justice.
The 2025 conclave is a historic moment – we will soon learn who the new leader of the Catholic Church is. It is worth following the smoke over the Vatican and witnessing this extraordinary event.
