The conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor will begin on May 7

The cardinals of the Catholic Church will begin the conclave to elect a new pope next May 7, Vatican Spokesman Matteo Bruni said Monday. The decision follows the funeral of Francis, who died a week ago, on Easter Monday, at the age of 88, after a prolonged illness.

Defined after a series of meetings

The date was determined after a fifth congregation of cardinals held Monday morning, attended by more than 180 cardinals. Of these, just over 100 have the right to vote, as the rules prevent those over 80 from voting.

During the previous sessions, several cardinals addressed the main challenges facing the Church today and the profile that the next pontiff should have. Bruni indicated that a special Mass is expected on May 7 itself, followed by the first vote in the afternoon local time. He also warned that some cardinals could join late due to health problems.

A process with centuries of history

Although tradition dictates that the conclave be held between 15 and 20 days after the death of the pope, the Vatican had so far not specified the details. Bruni explained that it was chosen not to anticipate the meeting in order to guarantee the necessary time for preparation.

The term "conclave," which means "under lock and key" in Latin, was born in 1268 during a particularly lengthy papal election in Viterbo, Italy. Since then, the procedure has evolved and become more streamlined: both Francis and his predecessor, Benedict XVI, were elected in just two days.

How does the conclave work?

The conclave takes place in the Sistine Chapel. The cardinals enter solemnly, take an oath of absolute secrecy, and are completely incommunicado, with no access to telephones, media, or outside contact.

Each cardinal writes on a ballot paper the name of his or her candidate, takes an oath, and deposits his or her vote in a ballot box. After the votes are counted, they are burned: black smoke indicates that there is still no decision; white smoke, that a new pope has been elected. To be proclaimed, a candidate must achieve a two-thirds majority.

The cardinal camarlengo oversees compliance with the rules and safeguards the confidentiality of the process. Although it is customary for the pope to be elected from among the cardinals present, the norms allow in theory for the election of any baptized male, who would be ordained bishop immediately if he was not already a bishop.

Over the centuries, additional measures have been introduced to ensure clarity in the results, such as the use of colored smoke and the ringing of bells to announce the election.