Vatican Announces Date for Conclave to Elect Next Pope

London,  – The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect the next pope will convene on May 7th, as confirmed by the press service of the Holy See. The date was set during the General Congregation of the College of Cardinals.

The conclave, which will be held in the Sistine Chapel, will see 135 eligible cardinals, all under the age of 80, participating in the election. These cardinals will engage in a secret ballot, and a two-thirds majority is required to elect the new pope. The election results will be signaled by the traditional white smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, visible to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Before the conclave begins, a votive Mass will take place on the morning of May 7. Following the Mass, the Cardinal electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel to take their oath of secrecy. The press office of the Holy See emphasized that the actual voting process may not begin on the first day, depending on the timing of the oath-taking ceremony.

The Sistine Chapel, renowned for its Michelangelo frescoes and a key part of the Vatican Museums' itinerary, is currently closed to the public in preparation for the conclave.

The conclave follows the passing of Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, who died on April 26th after leading the Church since 2013. The election of a new pope will mark a significant moment in the future leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.