Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
Following his transition to another realm on April 21, Pope Francis’s body has been placed in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where thousands of faithful will continue to file past in prayer and tribute. After the funeral Mass at 10 a.m. (9 a.m local time) in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican will move its focus to organizing the papal conclave that will determine who will take the lead of the church and oversee it’s affairs. However, until a new pope is elected, the College of Cardinals will handle the Church’s day-to-day operations, though they are not permitted to make any major decision or reform.
According to Church tradition, the conclave to elect the next pope begins 15 to 20 days after a pope’s death. This period allows time for mourning and gives cardinals from all over the world the opportunity to arrive in Rome. The Vatican has indicated that the conclave is expected to begin sometime between May 6 and May 12, 2025.
How will the new Pope be chosen?
The conclave is set to take place in the Sistine Chapel, where approximately 135 cardinal electors (those under age 80) will meet in strict secrecy. This process involves several rounds of voting per day until one candidate receives at least two-thirds of the votes and once it is done, a new era for the Catholic church will begin.
For now, the focus remains on honoring the legacy of Pope Francis as many describe him to be a humble servant, a voice for the marginalized, and the first Latin American pope.
