Vatican Announces May 7 Start for Conclave to Elect New Pope

Following the passing of Pope Francis, the Vatican has officially launched the process to appoint the 267th leader of the Catholic Church. In a formal announcement, Vatican officials confirmed that the papal conclave, the sacred gathering of cardinals to elect a new pope, will begin on Wednesday, May 7.

The highly anticipated event will take place within the Sistine Chapel, where 135 eligible cardinals from around the world are expected to convene behind closed doors for one of the most historic and secretive rituals in global religion.

As part of the preparation, the Vatican’s fire brigade has begun installing the chimney stack atop the Sistine Chapel—an essential feature of the conclave, used to signal the outcome of each voting round.

In a post shared Friday on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Vatican stated:

“The Vatican fire brigade is putting up the chimney stack which will announce the election of the new Pope.
The conclave to select the next Pope will begin on the 7th May.
After every vote, smoke will emerge from the chimney – black if no Pope has been elected, and white if he has been.”

The death of Pope Francis at age 88 has left the global Catholic community in mourning. Revered for his humility, progressive stances, and advocacy for the poor, Pope Francis was the first Latin American to lead the Church. His successor will inherit a Church grappling with evolving global challenges, from modernization and interfaith relations to declining membership in parts of the world.

The conclave follows ancient Catholic tradition and is steeped in symbolism and ceremony. Ballots are cast in secrecy, and the process can take days, depending on how quickly a consensus is reached.

All eyes are now on St. Peter’s Basilica as millions around the world await the sight of white smoke, signaling the arrival of a new spiritual leader for over 1.3 billion Catholics.