How to choose the next pope and how to take the conclave that will choose the new Catholic leader

Pope Francis died at the age of 88. The Vatican announced that at Monday, at 07:35, the local time, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church “returned to the father's house”, at his residence, the Santa Marta House. He was the first Latin American Pope in the history of the Church.

According to tradition, the death of the pontiff was confirmed by the head of the Vatican Health Department and Cardinal Camerlengo, in Italian Kevin Joseph Farrell- a kind of Vatican administrator, writes the BBC.

Pope Francis himself chose to reduce some of the pump and the funeral ceremony. In 2024, he simplified what would be the funeral ritual. This time, there will be no private viewing for the cardinals, but only a public one, in St. Peter's Basilica, after a procession led by Cardinal Camerlengo.

Inside the church, however, the Pope's body will remain in the coffin, which will not be raised on a pedestal.

Pope Francis, like his predecessor, will be buried with several objects that symbolize his period as a supreme pontiff and his achievements.

These are “Pallium”, a garment used only by the pontiff and metropolitan archbishop; “Rogito”, an act that summarizes the important moments of its pontificate, and bags with silver, gold and copper currencies equal to the years when it drove the Catholic Church.

In a 2023 interview, Pope Francis revealed that he had already prepared a tomb in his favorite church, the basilica of St. Mary Major.

The basilica also houses the graves of other popes and is located near the main train station of Rome. Even if it is on Italian soil, the church is considered to be the territory of the Vatican.

After the pope's death, Cardinal Camerlengo seals the apartment in the Santa Marta House, where he lived

Camerlengo destroys the pope's ring, with the seal used to sign documents, in front of the Cardinal College using a ceremonial hammer.

This is the beginning of the “vacant stay” period, when the Catholic Church remains without a pope and is preparing for Conclav – the secret meeting in which the cardinals choose a new pope.

135 cardinals are under 80, which makes them eligible to choose Pope Francis.

Pope Francis called 108 of the 135 cardinals. This increases-but does not guarantee-the possibility that the next pope to share his vision of a more progressive, inclusive Catholic Church. Most cardinal voting are from Europe, a tendency that has been maintained for centuries.

But the center of gravity of the Catholic Church changes. Asian cardinals, underrepresented historically, now represent almost a quarter of those who could be part of the conclave.

Once Francisc is buried, the dean of the Cardinal College, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, has 15 to 20 days to convene the cardinals to Rome.

During the conclave, the cardinals live in the house of Santa Marta, a five -storey pension, with 106 apartments, 22 single rooms and a state apartment. Pope Francis lived in apartment 201 during his papacy.

The cardinals will go to Via Delle Foundation every day to the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave takes place. All conversations with outsiders are prohibited during this period

The believers gather in St. Peter's Square during the Conclav, waiting for the moment when the smoke comes out of the Sixtine Chapel.

Inside the conclave

Papal conclaves are notoriously difficult to predict, because the electoral process is wrapped in so much secret. Once it enters the Sistine Chapel, it should not have any communication with the outside world until a new pope is chosen.

There is only one voting round in the first afternoon of the conclave, but the cardinals will vote up to four times every day afterwards.

A new pope requires a majority of two -thirds – and that can take.

Each cardinal votes on a simple card that says, in Latin: “I choose as a supreme pontiff” to which the name of the chosen candidate adds.

They go in a row, in the order of seniority, and put their books inside the big silver and guild.

Three assistants of Camerlengo, known as “scrutators”, will then count the votes, reading them aloud. All voting cards are then burned.

Apart from the Sixtine chapel, the world will watch after the smoke in the basket. If the smoke is black, another voting round will take place. White smoke reports that a new pope has been chosen.

If the conclave ends its third day without reaching a decision, the cardinals can stop for a day of prayer.

They can take another break every seven voting rounds.

If, after 33 tours, no decision will be made, there will be an election tour between the two most voted candidates – although one of them will still require two thirds of the votes to be elected Pope.

It is not unusual for conclaves to last a few days – the longest in history has lasted two and nine months, starting with 1268.

But, after several changes in rules to accelerate the process over time, the average duration of a conclave from the beginning of the twentieth century was three days.

Both Pope Francis and his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, were elected after two days.

There are also two structures mounted in the Sistine chapel during the conclave: two ovens are installed behind the camera to burn the ballots and to create smoke for the basket.

The one on the right is used for burning bulletins and the one on the left is used to generate additional smoke to signal in which direction the vote has taken.

Chemical compounds are mixed to make smoke either black or white.

The release of white smoke is accompanied by bell beats – to avoid the confusion of those waiting outside in St. Peter's Square.

Choosing the name

Once a pope is chosen, he must officially accept the post in front of the Cardinal College and choose his papal name.

In a press conference after his choice, Pope Francis said that his name honors Saint Francis of Assisi and was inspired by his Brazilian friend, Cardinal Claudio Hummes.

The pontiff told reporters that when he was proclaimed, Hummes hugged and kissed, saying, “Do not forget the poor.”

For more than 500 years, the popes used symbolic names for the honor of the previous pontifications. This is the main reason why most popes in history have chosen the name John.

After expressing his new name, the new Pope is taken to the so-called “Tears Chamber”, where he first receives papal clothes and accessories such as Stana White, a pilgrim called Mozzetta and a white cap called Zucchetto

The room received this name from the reports of anterior popes that, overwhelmed by the weight of the moment, were excited to tears after their choice.

What kind of clothes you choose to wear is a personal decision – one that can signal how it sees the role it just accepted. Pope Francis refused to wear the elaborate red tree (a ceremonial cloak worn by the clergy) with Hermine, instead opting for a simple white.

On a balcony in St. Peter's basilica overlooking the market, the new supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church will be presented to hundreds of believers from all over the world.

The traditional announcement will sound around the market: “Annungio Vobis Gaudium Magnum … Habemus Papam!” – “I announce a great joy … we have a pope!”