VATICAN CITY - The cardinals present in Rome have agreed that the conclave will begin on May 7, 2025. The decision was made at the Fifth General Congregation held Monday morning in the Vatican's Synod Hall. The conclave will be held in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, which will be closed to visitors during those days.
What happens during the conclave?
The conclave will be preceded by a solemn Eucharistic celebration with a votive Mass For Eligendo Papawhich will be attended by Cardinal Electors. In the afternoon, the cardinal electors will march in solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave to elect the new Pope will begin. At the end of the procession in the Sistine Chapel, each cardinal elector will take the oath of office as set out in paragraph 53 of the document Universi Dominici Gregis.
By this oath they pledge themselves, if elected, to faithfully execute Munus Petrinum as shepherds of the universal church. They also undertake to maintain absolute secrecy about everything that concerns the election of the Roman Pontiff and to refrain from any attempt at external interference in the election. At this point, they will announce the ceremonial of the pontifical liturgical rites extra omneswhich means that all those who are not members of the conclave must leave the Sistine Chapel.
There remains only the officiant himself and the cleric in charge of reciting the second meditation. This meditation focuses on the grave responsibility that rests on the electors and the need to act with pure intentions for the good of the universal Church, keeping only God before our eyes. After the meditation is delivered, both the church dignitary and the officiant leave. The cardinal electors then recite the prayers according to the Ordo Sacrorum Rituum Conclavis and listen to the Cardinal Dean, who asks them if they are ready to proceed to the vote or if they have any questions about the rules and procedures.
All electoral procedures take place exclusively in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, which remains completely closed until the election is over. Throughout the election process, cardinal electors must refrain from sending letters or holding conversations, including telephone calls, except in cases of extreme necessity. They may not send or receive any messages, receive newspapers or magazines of any kind, or watch radio or television broadcasts.
How many votes are needed to elect a Pope?
A two-thirds majority of the voters present is required for a valid election of a new Pope. If the total number of voters is not divisible by three, one additional vote is required. If voting begins on the afternoon of the first day, only one vote is taken. On subsequent days, two ballots shall be held in the morning and two in the afternoon. After the votes have been counted, all ballot papers are burnt. If the vote is not successful, black smoke comes out of the chimney above the Sistine Chapel. If the Pope is elected, white smoke rises from the chimney.
If, after three days of unsuccessful voting, the voters do not agree on a candidate, a break of up to one day is allowed during which they pray, discuss freely and the cardinal proto-deacon (Cardinal Dominique Mamberti) gives a short spiritual exhortation.
What will happen immediately after the election of the new Pope?
Once the cardinals have elected a new pope, the last of the cardinal-deacons will call the secretary of the College of Cardinals and the master of ceremonies of the papal liturgies to the Sistine Chapel. The dean of the College, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, on behalf of all the electors, will ask for the consent of the elected candidate with the following words: "Do you accept your canonical election as High Priest?". After receiving consent, he asks: "What name do you wish to use?".
The notary, with two of the officiating ceremonialists as witnesses, acts as the notary who draws up the document of acceptance of the election and records the name chosen. From this moment on, the newly elected Pope acquires full and supreme authority over the universal Church. The conclave ends at this moment. The cardinal electors then pay homage to the new pope and pledge obedience and give thanks to God.
The Cardinal Proto-Deacon then announces to the faithful the choice and the name of the new Pope with the famous sentence, "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; Habemus Papam." Immediately afterwards, the new Pope will give the Apostolic Blessing Urbi et Orbi from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica. The final step is that, after the inauguration of the pontificate and within a reasonable time, the new Pope will formally take over the Patriarchal Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Lisa Zengarini and Devin Watkins, Vatican City
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