EXPLAINERBehind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel, cardinals from around the world will convene to elect the 267th pontiff.As the formal mourning period for Pope Francis has ended, attention now shifts to the papal conclave in Vatican City, where powerful members of the Catholic Church are converging to elect the next pontiff.
Cardinals from around the world will choose the 267th pope, leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, at an event of spiritual, political and global relevance. Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88 after 12 years in the papacy.
The conclave, which will kick off on Wednesday, will be held behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel. It generally lasts several days and, in some cases, weeks.
Here is what we know:
What is a papal conclave?
The term conclave comes from the Latin term “con clavis”, meaning “with a key”, a reference to the tradition of locking the cardinals away until a new pope is elected.
In the Roman Catholic Church, a papal conclave is a solemn, closed-door gathering of the College of Cardinals held to elect a new pope.
Known as the “princes of the church,” the cardinals follow an intricate and centuries-old process rooted in the Middle Ages.
While the traditions have evolved, the current procedures are largely based on the 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, issued by Pope John Paul II with later amendments made by Pope Benedict XVI.
Cardinals below the age of 80 vote although all cardinals may attend the meetings irrespective of age. There are currently 133 eligible voters.
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