On April 21, 2025, the world mourned the passing of the most recent Pope, Pope Francis (Jorge Bergoglio), the 265th successor of St. Peter as the Supreme Pontiff or head of the Roman Catholic Church. After the funeral, there are now talks as to how and when the Pope selection will take place and who will be selected as the new successor of the seat.

So what's the process of choosing a new successor? Here’s what you need to know:

Mourning

After the passing of the current Pontiff, the Catholic Church will begin its traditional nine days of mourning, or Novendiales.

A Pope’s death (or resignation) triggers the process of an election for a new Pope. This transition is called Interregnum— no one holds the power of being a Pope during this period.

Gathering of Cardinals

The Cardinals, who serve as the counselors of the Pope from across the globe gather for ‘General Congregations’ where they pray, discuss, and prepare for the election or the Papal Conclave.

Currently, there are over 250 Cardinals all over the world. While everyone is asked to gather during ‘General Congregations’, only the Cardinals below the age of 80 are allowed to participate during the election due to the Church’s belief that if you go over 80 years of age, physical and mental capabilities may change naturally and it may affect your decision and confidence on who to vote for. The qualified Cardinals will be the ‘Cardinal Electors.

The Papal Conclave

Within 15 to 20 days after the death, the Papal Conclave begins. Papal Conclave is the process of electing the new Pontiff who will succeed the position. 

The election duration depends on how long a candidate will receive two-thirds of the cardinals’ votes.

In 2013, Pope Francis was elected as the new pope, one day after the papal conclave began. On the other hand, the longest Papal Conclave lasted for 34 months with Pope Gregory X as the result of the election.

The Election process will be in full secrecy. The Voting Cardinals will pray in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican, where they chant “Veni Creator Spiritus”, calling the Holy Spirit to guide them in the big decision they’re going to make. During this ceremony, the Cardinal Electors will take an oath of secrecy, kickstarting the Conclave after the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebration announces “Extra Omnes”, or “All Out.”

Once the ceremony is finished, only the Cardinal Electors will remain, and they won’t be allowed to communicate from the outside.

Papal Conclave is in full secrecy to retain the integrity of the election process, avoiding any external influences to cloud the judgment of any of the Cardinal Electors.

Discussion on the Potential Candidates

While almost all of the time, the Pope is chosen from among the Cardinals, any Catholic male is actually eligible to become a Pope.

During the Papal Conclave, the Cardinal Electors discuss the Potential Candidates to be a Pontiff. The discussion may include moral integrity, holiness, wisdom, leadership skills, theological knowledge, experience, track record, and reputation.

The Voting Process

After careful discussions and prayerful judgment, the vote begins.

Each Cardinal Elector will write his choice in a twice-folded ballot and place it in an urn. A candidate must receive two-thirds of the votes to be proclaimed as the new Supreme Pontiff.

Once all votes are in, three randomly chosen by draw Cardinals will read each vote aloud. 

The Result

While the voting process is kept from outsiders, the result of the voting will be announced through smoke signals mixed with the ballots and some chemicals. A black smoke signifies that no candidate has reached the ⅔ majority of the votes, and another round of voting shall be made. There will be one round on the first voting day and 4 rounds on the succeeding days until someone has reached the ⅔ majority. When a candidate finally reaches the ⅔ majority, a white smoke accompanied by the bells will be released, signifying that a new Pope has been decided.

The New Pope

After receiving ⅔ of the votes, the candidate will be asked if he’s up for the job (he can decline). If he agrees, with his chosen Papal name, he’ll become the new Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.