Vatican City – Monday 21st April , With the passing of Pope Francis, the College of Cardinals will begin the process of electing a new pope. The Vatican has not yet announced the date for the conclave to elect his successor.

As the Catholic Church mourns the loss of a transformative leader, Pope Francis’s legacy of humility, reform, and advocacy for the marginalized will continue to influence the direction of the Church in the years to come.

In accordance with papal tradition, he has sealed the late pontiff’s private apartment and begun preparations for the funeral rites. Among his solemn duties is the ceremonial destruction of the pope’s Fisherman’s Ring and lead seal—symbols of papal authority—to prevent any misuse.

No autopsy will be performed, consistent with long-standing Church custom.

Nine Days of Mourning

The Catholic Church will now observe nine days of mourning, known as novemdiales, during which prayers and Masses are held daily. The funeral, traditionally held four to six days after death, will take place in St. Peter’s Square. However, Pope Francis, known for breaking with certain traditions, had previously expressed his wish not to be buried in the Vatican crypt beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. Instead, he requested a modest burial at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, in a simple wooden casket.

Transition and Conclave

During the interregnum—the period between two papacies—the College of Cardinals assumes responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day affairs of the Church. Their power is limited, and most of the Vatican’s administrative work pauses until a new pope is elected.

The process to choose Pope Francis’s successor begins with a conclave held inside the Sistine Chapel. It must start between 15 and 20 days after the pope’s death. All cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the secret ballot. To be elected, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority, plus one—a process that often takes several rounds of voting.

Signs of the Decision

The world watches closely for the traditional signal from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. Black smoke means no decision has been reached. When a new pope is elected, white smoke billows out, signaling the momentous conclusion of the conclave.

Soon after, the dean of the College of Cardinals appears on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce the Latin phrase “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”). The new leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics then emerges to give his first blessing to the faithful.

As the Church mourns the loss of Pope Francis, attention now turns to the global College of Cardinals, who will gather in the Vatican to chart the path forward for the Catholic Church.

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