Conclave to elect new pope to begin on 7 May, Vatican says

The Vatican has officially announced that a conclave, a secret meeting of cardinals, will begin on May 7 to elect a new pope. This important gathering will take place in the Sistine Chapel and will include around 135 cardinals from various countries. The conclave is necessary due to the recent passing of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. His funeral was held just a few days ago, and it was attended by many dignitaries and leaders from around the world. The cardinals will come together in a closed meeting to select the next leader of the Catholic Church. While there is no specific timeline for how long the election process will take, previous conclaves in 2005 and 2013 were completed in just two days. According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, the cardinals will first participate in a solemn mass at St Peter's Basilica. Following the mass, those eligible to vote will gather in the Sistine Chapel to begin the secretive voting process. Once the cardinals enter the chapel, they are not allowed to communicate with anyone outside until a new pope is elected. On the first afternoon of the conclave, there will be only one round of voting, but after that, the cardinals can vote up to four times each day. To elect a new pope, a two-thirds majority is required, which can sometimes take a while to achieve. Each cardinal will cast their vote on a simple card that states in Latin, 'I elect as Supreme Pontiff,' followed by the name of their chosen candidate. If the conclave reaches the end of the third day without a decision, the cardinals may take a day for prayer. Outside the Sistine Chapel, people around the world will be eagerly watching for the smoke that will come from the chimney. Black smoke indicates that another round of voting will take place, while white smoke signals that a new pope has been chosen. The funeral of Pope Francis was a significant event, attended by heads of state, government officials, and royalty from various nations. On the day of the funeral, thousands of mourners gathered to pay their respects. Hymns filled the air, occasionally interrupted by the sound of helicopters flying overhead. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who is 91 years old, delivered a heartfelt homily reflecting on the pope's legacy. After the ceremony, large crowds lined the streets of Rome to witness the procession of the pope's coffin to its final resting place. Authorities reported that approximately 140,000 people came out to clap and wave as the hearse, which was a repurposed white popemobile, crossed the Tiber River and passed by some of Rome's most famous landmarks, including the Colosseum and the Forum. On Sunday, a single white rose was placed on the stone that bears the name the pope was known by during his time as pontiff, illuminated by a single spotlight.