The Vatican has commenced official preparations to elect the next head of the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis which occurred on Monday, April 21, 2025,.
The papal conclave, which will select the 267th Pope, is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 7, inside the Sistine Chapel.
The College of Cardinals, comprising senior Catholic leaders from across the world, will gather for the highly anticipated vote.
According to a Monday announcement by the Vatican, the election process will strictly follow the rules established by Church canon law and tradition.
As part of the preparations, the Vatican fire brigade has begun installing the chimney stack that will signal voting outcomes to the public.
A post from the Vatican’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, May 2, confirmed the installation of the chimney.
“The Vatican fire brigade is putting up the chimney stack which will announce the election of the new Pope,” the post stated.
The chimney will emit black smoke when no Pope is elected and white smoke once a new pontiff is chosen.
This centuries-old smoke signal remains the most iconic part of the Catholic papal election.
Cardinals will vote in multiple rounds daily until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority.
The Vatican has also enhanced security across St. Peter’s Square and surrounding areas in anticipation of large crowds.
The death of Pope Francis, who led the Church since 2013, marks the end of a transformative papacy.
He was known for progressive reforms, global outreach, and promoting compassion across religious and cultural lines.
Following his death, millions of Catholics have been praying for guidance in selecting the Church’s new spiritual leader.
Experts say the conclave could take several days, depending on how quickly consensus is reached.
The Vatican has urged Catholics worldwide to pray for wisdom and unity among the cardinals.
Once elected, the new Pope will be introduced to the world with the traditional Latin phrase, “Habemus Papam.”
He will then deliver his first public message from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Post Views: 4
