Pope Francis Death: How Will Next Pope Be Chosen? Find Out

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Sadly, it has been reported that Pope Francis passed away on Monday, at the age of 86. According to the Daily Mail, he was taken to the hospital due to a lung infection that escalated into double pneumonia, which then led to kidney failure.

Following the demise of Pope Francis, there’s been much curiosity about how his successor will be chosen. To clarify, it is the College of Cardinals, composed of senior Catholic clergy, many of whom were appointed by Francis himself, who will be responsible for electing the next pope, as reported by Al Jazeera.

For centuries, only individuals from within their own ranks have been chosen as candidates. However, it’s important to note that according to the article, only males who are Roman Catholics and have been baptized are qualified for eligibility.

Currently, there are over 240 cardinals worldwide. Cardinals who are 80 years old or younger have the privilege of voting in the papal election, which takes place within the secluded Sistine Chapel. This seclusion is to shield them from external influences and allow for thorough deliberation on the selection of their new leader.

As a lifestyle expert, I find it fascinating that we’re currently witnessing an unusual situation in the electoral process: there are 138 eligible voters, when typically only 120 are involved. This anomaly, as reported, pertains to the selection of a new Pope. The voting itself is conducted through confidential ballots, and the proceedings are meticulously supervised by nine cardinals, who have been randomly selected for this task.

According to the records, historically, a two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pope, and the voting process continues until this requirement is met. After each round of balloting, a chemical is added which changes the color of the smoke (either black or white) to signal whether a decision has been reached or further voting is necessary.

Black smoke indicates that no decision has been reached during the papal conclave, contrastingly, white smoke signals that a newly elected pope has been chosen. Once the election is completed, a high-ranking cardinal reveals the name of the new pontiff from Saint Peter’s Basilica, according to the article.

This process takes place usually after the resignation or death of the sitting pope.

The process of choosing a new pope could last anywhere from several days to several weeks, or possibly longer, depending on the level of disagreement among the cardinals. In the event of multiple rounds of voting, the conclave may conduct up to four sessions per day in an effort to reach the necessary two-thirds majority.

If the decision has not been made even after 33 rounds, the top two candidates face off in a run-off vote, per the outlet’s article.

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2025-04-21 15:07