Papal conclave 2025: What is the voting process to elect the new Pope

 The process of electing a new pope, also known as a papal conclave, is underway. Here's what's happening:

The Conclave Process

When a pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals takes over the governance of the Catholic Church. These cardinals, chosen by the previous pope, gather at the Vatican for a series of meetings called general congregations. They discuss the church's needs and challenges, then proceed to the conclave to elect a new pope.

Voting Process

- Only cardinals under 80 years old can participate in the conclave and vote for the new pope.

- The cardinals take an oath of secrecy before the voting process begins.

- They vote by secret ballot, with each cardinal processing to the Sistine Chapel's altar and dropping their ballot into a chalice.

- Four rounds of voting occur daily until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote.

Electing the New Pope

- Once a candidate achieves the required two-thirds majority, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks if he accepts his election.

- If accepted, the new pope chooses a papal name, dons papal vestments, and appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

- The senior cardinal deacon announces "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope") before the new pope imparts his blessing.

Current Situation

The conclave began today, May 7, 2025, with 133 cardinals from around the world participating. The cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope following Pope Francis' death on April 21.