With the passing of Pope Francis, the mechanisms to select a new pope have been set in motion. It has now been confirmed that the process will begin on May 5, after the nine-day mourning period concludes.
The Vatican states that “the name of the new pope will be confirmed within a month,” however, the conclave—the meeting of cardinals who will elect the Pope’s successor—is expected to occur sooner than that.
The election of the pope takes place under strict secrecy, with the cardinals being confined to the Vatican until they reach an agreement on the name of the new pope.
In general, the College of Cardinals has a limit of 120 cardinals with voting rights. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI approved a decree requiring cardinals to achieve a two-thirds majority to select the pope.
The election process can last several days, and during this period, the cardinals are not allowed to contact the outside world. Voting takes place in the Sistine Chapel, and after the vote, the ballots are mixed, counted, and opened.
The ballots are then burned, and if a decision has been made, white smoke will rise from the chimney for those outside the Vatican to see. About 15 minutes after the white smoke, the announcement of the new pope will be made.
If black smoke appears, it means a decision has not yet been reached, and the voting process will continue. To produce the black smoke, the ballots are burned with a chemical.
