VATICAN CITY — One hundred and thirty-three cardinals are sequestering themselves behind the Vatican’s medieval walls for the start of a conclave starting Wednesday to elect a successor to Pope Francis.
Here are some things to know about the election of the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, which has 1.4 billion faithful across the world.
Pope Francis waves from the Popemobile on his way to attend the Via Crucis on Copacabana Beach during World Youth Day celebrations on July 26, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pope Francis has died at age 88. (Buda Mendes/Getty)
Pope Francis holds the pastoral staff as he leaves after celebrating a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, to mark Epiphany, Jan. 6, 2014. (Andrew Medichini/AP)
Mourners gather at St. Patrick's Cathedral to pay respects to Pope Francis on April 21, 2025 in New York City. The Vatican announced that Pope Francis, 88, died on Monday a day after he appeared in St Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, greeting thousands of worshippers. (Alex Kent/Getty)
People light candles near a mural of the late Pope Francis during a vigil in Dili, East Timor, Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP)
Christians arrive with a portrait of Pope Francis for a prayer ceremony at the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection, in Lahore, Pakistan, April 21, 2025, following the announcement by the Vatican of the death of Pope Francis. (K.M. Chaudary/AP)
Pope Francis hugs 8-year-old Dominic Gondreau, who has cerebral palsy, after celebrating his first Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 31, 2013. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
Pope Francis tries to catch his cap as wind blows it away while arriving for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 13, 2024. (Andrew Medichini/AP)
Pope Francis is presented with a cake by Valentina Alazraki, correspondent for TeleVisa Univision, to celebrate his upcoming Dec. 17, 88th birthday, on the flight back to Rome at the end of his one-day visit to Ajaccio in the French island of Corsica, Dec. 15, 2024. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
Genali Nogales touches a painting of the late Pope Francis at the Basílica de San José de Flores, where he worshipped as a youth, following the Vatican's announcement of his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 21, 2025. (Gustavo Garello/AP)
An obelisk is illuminated with the image of Pope Francis as he recovers in the hospital in Buenos Aires on Feb. 21, 2025. (Luis Robayo/Getty-AFP)
Catholic worshippers gather for Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Feb. 24, 2025. (Bernat Armangue/AP)
Pope Francis receives U.S. Vice President JD Vance, right, before bestowing the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and the world) blessing in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 20, 2025. (Vatican Media)
Nuns pray for Pope Francis in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Feb. 22, 2025, where the pontiff had been hospitalized since Feb. 14. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
Pope Francis salutes the faithful during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A view of the altar where Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education, presided over a Mass for the Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture in St. Peter's Basilica on Feb. 16, 2025, that was supposed to be presided over by Pope Francis before he was hospitalized a few days prior. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
Deacons take part in a Mass for their jubilee in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Feb. 23, 2025, that was supposed to be presided over by Pope Francis who was admitted over a week ago to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic and is in critical condition. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
Faithful participating in the Jubilee arrive in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Feb. 23, 2025, where they were supposed to say the Sunday's Angelus prayer with Pope Francis, who was admitted over a week before to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic and is in critical condition. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
Children listen to a coach during a swimming lesson with a painting of Pope Francis in the background, in San José natatorium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Feb. 18, 2025. (Rodrigo Abd/AP)
A child holds a drawing reading: "C'mon, Pope Francis we are all with you" as she prays outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Feb. 23, 2025, where Pope Francis had been hospitalized since Feb. 14. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
President Barack Obama and Pope Francis walk down the Colonnade before meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Sept. 23, 2015. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Rose Williams prays before Mass on Feb. 23, 2025, at Holy Name Cathedral in the River North neighborhood as Catholics around the world monitored the health of Pope Francis. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)
Churchgoers attend Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan, a day after the Vatican announced that Pope Francis was in critical condition on Feb. 23, 2025. Francis, 88, was hospitalized on Feb. 14 with a respiratory tract infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. (Dave Sanders/The New York Times)
Faithful pray for Pope Francis' health during a Mass in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 18, 2025. (Rodrigo Abd/AP)
People pray for Pope Francis in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Feb. 23, 2025, where the pontiff had been hospitalized since Feb. 14. (Andrew Medichini/AP)
Members of the Duarte family pray for the health of Pope Francis during the baptism of 1-month-old Benjamin, at Rosario Church in the Carlos Mugica neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 23, 2025. (Rodrigo Abd/AP)
Missionary nun María Engracia, from Mexico, prays for the health of Pope Francis at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Feb. 21, 2025. (Rodrigo Abd/AP)
Pilgrims for the jubiliar year 2025 carrying a wooden crucifix arrive in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Feb. 14, 2025, hours after Pope Francis was hospitalized to undergo some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his ongoing treatment for bronchitis. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
A woman prays during an evening Mass where the priest offered up prayers for the good health of Pope Francis, amid a power outage in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
Candles are seen near pictures of Pope Francis outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Feb. 23, 2025, where the pontiff was hospitalized since Feb. 14. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
Catholic faithful gather at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, popularly known as the Manila Cathedral, in Manila, Philippines, on Feb. 21, 2025, to pray for the recovery of Pope Francis as part of a nationwide call for prayers initiated by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. (Gerard Carreon/AP)
Deacons take part in a Mass for their jubilee in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican that was supposed to be presided over by Pope Francis who was admitted over a week ago at Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic and is in critical condition. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
A woman holds a rosary during a Mass for Pope Francis' health at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Feb. 23, 2025. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
Faithful from Bolivia pray for Pope Francis outside the Policlinico Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis had been hospitalized for tests and treatment for bronchitis on Feb. 18, 2025, in Rom. Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome on Friday with bronchitis, and was subsequently treated for a respiratory tract infection. On Monday, the Vatican confirmed the 88-year-old pontiff will remain in hospital as the "complex clinical picture" around his health is addressed. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
Pope Francis enters the House Chamber before addressing a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 24, 2015. Francis was the first pontiff to address the U.S. Congress. (Zach Gibson/The New York Times)
Pope Francis salutes faithful at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A nun prays for Pope Francis in front of Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Feb. 23, 2025, where the pontiff had been hospitalized since Feb. 14. (Andrew Medichini/AP)
Pope Francis leaves in a car at the end of his visit on Holy Thursday to the Regina Coeli penitentiary in Rome, April 17, 2025. (Andrew Medichini/AP)
Pope Francis bestows the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and to the world) blessing from the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican on Sept. 30, 2020 during the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. (Filippo Monteforte/Getty-AFP)
Pope Francis walks through the gate of the former Nazi German death camp of Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, July 29, 2016. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
Pope Francis waves to wellwishers as he leaves after a meeting at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the capital Maputo, Mozambique, Sept. 5, 2019. (Ben Curtis/AP)
Pope Francis twirls a soccer ball he was presented by a member of the Circus of Cuba, during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, Jan. 2, 2019. (Andrew Medichini/AP)
Pope Francis meets with President Donald Trump, left, on the occasion of their private audience, at the Vatican, May 24, 2017. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
Pope Francis visits with inmates at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia on Sept. 27, 2015. Francis' transformative vision for the American church made it more open, but also energized conservative resistance that further divided it. (Todd Heisler/The New York Times)
A crowd lines the street as Pope Francis is driven along Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 2015. Francis' transformative vision for the American church made it more open, but also energized conservative resistance that further divided it. (Eric Thayer/The New York Times)
Pope Francis consoles Serena Subania who lost her daughter Angelica, 5 years old, the day before as he leaves the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital after receiving treatment for a bronchitis, in Rome, April 1, 2023. (Gregorio Borgia/AP)
Pope Francis is greeted by Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, left, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, and faithful gathered outside the Apostolic Prefecture in Ulaanbaatar's Kahn Uul district, Sept. 1, 2023. Pope Francis is traveling to Mongolia to encourage one of the world's smallest and newest Catholic communities. It's the first time a pope has visited the Asian country and comes at a time when the Vatican's relations with Mongolia's two powerful neighbors, Russia and China, are once again strained. (Louise Delmotte/AP)
FILE - Pope Francis embraces Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, at the Vatican, on June 28, 2017. Pope Benedict XVI's 2013 resignation sparked calls for rules and regulations for future retired popes to avoid the kind of confusion that ensued. Benedict, the German theologian who will be remembered as the first pope in 600 years to resign, has died, the Vatican announced Saturday Dec. 31, 2022. He was 95. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - Parishioners celebrates after hearing that Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio was chosen as Pope, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 13, 2013. When Bergoglio of Argentina became Pope Francis, much of his home country celebrated as if it had just won a soccer World Cup championship. A decade later, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church generates divided opinions. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File)
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Pope Francis waves from the Popemobile on his way to attend the Via Crucis on Copacabana Beach during World Youth Day celebrations on July 26, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pope Francis has died at age 88. (Buda Mendes/Getty)
The conclave was called after Francis died on April 21 at age 88. There was a delay between his death and the conclave to allow time for a funeral, burial and a period of mourning. It was also necessary to give cardinals time to arrive in Rome from all corners of the Earth, and to let them get acquainted before entering the conclave, an ancient ritual steeped in mystery and ritual.
What happens in a conclave?
A solemn day began with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. At 4:30 p.m. (1430 GMT; 10:30 a.m. EDT) the cardinals are to walk solemnly into the frescoed Sistine Chapel, chanting the meditative “Litany of the Saints” and the Latin hymn “Veni Creator,” imploring the saints and the Holy Spirit to help them pick a pope.
The cardinals are cut off from the world at the Vatican, between residences and the Sistine Chapel, where they vote in secret — and in silence — beneath Michelangelo’s famed ceiling fresco of the Creation and his monumental “Last Judgment.”
Taking no chances, the Vatican is asking cardinals to hand over their phones for the duration of the conclave and is deactivating cell phone coverage at the Vatican. It also plans to use signal jammers around the Sistine Chapel and the Domus Santa Marta hotel and adjacent residence where the cardinals will sleep, to prevent surveillance and communication with the outside world.
White or black smoke signals?
The electors cast paper ballots, and voting continues until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority, or 89 votes. After voting, ballots are burned in a special stove — black smoke signals no decision, while white smoke means a new pope has been chosen.
Electors must be under 80 years old, and are more geographically diverse than ever. They represent Catholicism’s growing presence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as its traditional power base in Europe.
How long does it take?
The longest conclave in history lasted nearly three years, but it’s reasonable to assume that this conclave will be much, much shorter.
Cardinals this week said they expect a short conclave, though it will likely take at least a few rounds of voting. The conclave opens late afternoon Wednesday. Cardinals are expected to hold the first round of voting on Wednesday, but there is no requirement that they do so.
For most of the past century, it has taken between three and eight ballots to find a pope. John Paul I — the pope who reigned for 33 days — was elected on the third ballot in 1978. His successor, St. John Paul II, needed eight. Francis was elected on the fifth in 2013.
After John Paul II broke the Italian hold on the papacy in 1978, the field has broadened considerably, such that cardinals from far-flung countries are now seen as contenders. The past three popes have hailed from Poland (John Paul II), Germany (Benedict XVI) and Argentina (Francis).
Of the 133 cardinals expected to vote at the conclave, 108 were appointed by Francis. They may feel a loyalty to continuing his legacy — even though the late pontiff didn’t choose cardinals based on ideology, but rather for their pastoral priorities and geographical diversity.
Beyond that, the cardinals will consider practical matters, like age. Picking a relatively young man — say in his 60s — could result in a papacy of 20 years or longer.
Picking a pope from where the church is growing – Asia or Africa – could bring more upheaval to the Vatican’s Italian-heavy bureaucracy that is still smarting from the Argentine pope’s go-it-alone style.
What happens after a new pope is chosen?
Once a candidate receives the necessary votes and accepts, he chooses a papal name and enters the “Room of Tears” — named for the emotional weight of the responsibility ahead — to don his papal vestments.
Minutes later, he is introduced to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the proclamation in Latin: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!” (“I bring you tidings of great joy: We have a pope!”)
That will be immediately followed by the revelation of his baptismal name, in Latin, followed by the papal name he has chosen.
A line that stretches back to St. Peter and Jesus
Every new pope is seen as a successor to St. Peter, the apostle believed by Catholics to have been appointed by Jesus as the head of the church. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells him, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,” a verse that forms the biblical basis for the papacy.
According to tradition, Peter traveled to Rome to spread the Christian message and was martyred there during the reign of the Emperor Nero, around 64 A.D., as Christians were being persecuted. He was said to be crucified upside down at his own request, considering himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.
St. Peter’s Basilica now stands over what is believed to be his tomb.
Why does the pope matter beyond the Catholic Church?
Though the pope leads a religious institution, his influence extends far beyond it. Pope John Paul II played a pivotal role in supporting the Solidarity movement in his native Poland and encouraging resistance to Soviet domination in Eastern Europe. His moral leadership was credited by many with helping to hasten the end of the Cold War.
Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, became a prominent voice on global issues from climate change to migration and economic inequality. He called for compassion toward refugees, warned against the dangers of nationalism, and urged action to protect the planet — stances that resonated well beyond church walls, and at times put him at odds with political leaders.
A name to signal a papal direction
The first sign of the new pope’s priorities will come in the name he chooses.
A Francis II might signal a new pope’s embrace of Francis’ legacy of prioritizing the poor and marginalized; a Pius would hint at a traditionalist restoration.
From John Paul to Benedict to Francis, each name has carried historical weight and theological intent. For the 267th pope, it will be his first message to the world.
