Who selects the next pontiff? What ancient rites guide his election?

The passing of Pope Francis, who led the global Catholic community for 12 years, has set in motion the time-honored ritual of choosing a new leader for the Church.

Confirming the Pope’s Death

The process begins with the Camerlengo, the official who oversees the Vatican between papacies. He solemnly calls the Pope’s baptismal name three times. With no reply, the Pope’s death is officially confirmed and proclaimed to the world. Following this, the Pope's symbols of authority — the Fisherman’s Ring and the official seal — are ceremonially destroyed.

This moment marks the beginning of the interregnum, a transitional phase where the Church prepares for its next spiritual leader.

Funeral Rites and Mourning

The Pope's funeral typically occurs within 4 to 6 days of his death. Unless otherwise requested, he is usually interred beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. This is followed by nine days of formal mourning known as the novemdiales.

While traditional papal funerals have historically involved elaborate ceremonies, Pope Francis had personally pushed for a more humble observance. He opted for a plain wooden coffin lined with zinc, forgoing the conventional triple-casket burial. He also declined to have his body displayed on the catafalque for public veneration.

In a break with recent tradition, Francis will be the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican — in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome.

The College of Cardinals: Who Elects the Pope?

The responsibility of electing a new pope lies with the College of Cardinals — the Church’s highest-ranking officials. Out of 252 cardinals, 138 are under the age of 80 and thus eligible to vote. Those over 80 may join in pre-conclave discussions but are barred from casting ballots.

Inside the Conclave: The Secret Election

The election takes place within the solemn confines of the Sistine Chapel, in a closed-door gathering known as the conclave. This is typically convened within 15 to 20 days of the Pope’s passing.

During the conclave, the cardinal-electors cast their votes in strict secrecy. Balloting continues until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority — a process that could last days, or even weeks. History records conclaves stretching for months, and even cases where cardinals died before a decision was reached.

The world watches the Vatican chimney for the only clue: black smoke means no decision, white smoke signals the election of a new pope.

Habemus Papam: The New Pope is Revealed

Following the white smoke, the newly elected pope is typically introduced to the world within an hour. The announcement is made from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica by the Cardinal Protodeacon, who declares: “Habemus Papam”— “We have a Pope!” The new pontiff then steps forward to greet the faithful under his chosen papal name.

Who Can Be Chosen as Pope?

Technically, any baptized male Catholic is eligible to be elected pope. In practice, however, only cardinals are seriously considered. When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected in 2013, he became the first pope from South America — a region home to nearly a third of the world’s Catholics.

Of the 266 popes elected in Church history, 217 have hailed from Italy.