ieExplains: How does the conclave work and when will a new pope be chosen?
Who is taking part?
Cardinals, the senior members of the Catholic clergy known as the 'princes of the church'. Only those under the age of 80 are eligible to take part and two have said they cannot attend due to ill health. (Another, Angelo Becciu, who was convicted of fraud and embezzlement in 2022, is not taking part.)
The Vatican has confirmed that all 133 cardinals expected to participate have arrived in Rome.
More than 50 of the cardinal electors are European, with Italy dominating. Ten are from the US, 23 from Asia, 21 from Central and South America, and 18 from Africa.
What will they do when the conclave begins?
The scarlet-clad men will make their way from their residence at Casa Santa Marta to the Sistine Chapel. They will hand in their phones; the chapel has already been swept for bugs and jamming devices installed. Each will swear an oath of secrecy.
The master of pontifical liturgical celebrations calls out 'extra omnes' – everyone out. All those present except the cardinal electors and a handful of officials and doctors leave and the doors are locked.
There are no speeches or debate inside the chapel. The first vote will probably be taken on Wednesday afternoon. Thereafter, four votes will be held each day until one candidate reaches a two-thirds majority.
Their days will start with mass. The cardinal electors will break for lunch at about 12.30pm, returning to the chapel in the late afternoon for more rounds of voting. The cardinals will recite vespers together at the end of the day's proceedings and then return to the Santa Marta guest house for dinner.
Cardinals arrive in St. Peter's Basilica to attend a mass on the seventh of nine days of mourning for late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
There are only 120 rooms at the Santa Marta, so overflow accommodation has been arranged in a nearby residence.
If there is no result after three days, cardinals can take a rest day for prayer and reflection.
How does the voting system work?
Each cardinal will be allocated a desk, on which sits a pen and a pile of ballot papers with the words Eligo in summum pontificem (I elect as supreme pontiff) printed at the top. They write their preferred name, fold the paper in half and place it in a bronze urn.
Each day, three scrutineers are chosen by lot from their number, plus three infirmari who collect ballots from any cardinals too sick to come to the Sistine Chapel, and three revisers.
The ballot papers are counted and recounted before being threaded with a needle – piercing the word eligo – into a bundle. The papers are burned in a stove. If there is no result, chemicals are added to make the smoke black; if there is a successful candidate, the chemicals turn the smoke white.
Cardinal William Goh arrives at the Vatican, Monday, May 5, 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The smoke travels through a flue that leads to a chimney installed on the roof. Vatican firefighters are on standby.
When white smoke emerges from the chimney, bells will also be rung, signalling to the crowds outside that habemus papam: we have a pope.
What happens to the new pope?
The dean of the College of Cardinals asks the man: 'Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?' If he agrees, he must decide his papal name. The cardinals will pledge obedience to the new pope.
Then he will be taken into the adjacent Room of Tears, where he will change from his scarlet cardinal's outfit into a white papal cassock. Usually small, medium and large cassocks are made in advance. This time it is thought the Vatican is recycling cassocks made for previous conclave.
The Vatican's Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin (C) and cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (2ndR) attend the Seventh Novemdiale mass at St Peter's basilica, following the funeral of the Pope and ahead of the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 2, 2025. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP) (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)
The new pope is led to the main balcony of St Peter's Basilica to greet the crowds.
How long will the conclave last?
It could be anything from a few hours to weeks. The longest conclave in history, in the 13th century, lasted two years and nine months. Since the beginning of the 20th century, most conclaves have lasted two or three days.
If no candidate has secured a two-thirds majority after 13 days of balloting, a runoff takes place between the top two candidates – but two-thirds of the cardinals' votes are still needed to become pope. If there is still a deadlock, it is not clear what happens next.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
9 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Trading principles for predictability — what the EU gave up to avoid a tariff war
In the hours following the announcement that the US and EU had struck a deal last weekend on tariffs, European reaction was mixed. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deal, which imposes 15% tariffs on most items going both ways, "creates certainty in uncertain times" and "delivers stability and predictability, for citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic" as she tried to sell the deal to the 27 EU member states. But if Ms von der Leyen expected a lap of honour to ease her troubled start to her second term, one was not coming. "It is a dark day when an alliance of free peoples, brought together to affirm their common values and to defend their common interests, resigns itself to submission," French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou wrote on X of what he called the "von der Leyen-Trump deal". German Chancellor Friedrich Merz himself initially appeared satisfied, saying that the agreement "succeeded in averting a trade conflict that would have hit the export-oriented German economy hard". But by Monday, amid cross-party criticism, Mr Merz said the deal would "substantially damage" his nation's finances, but acknowledged that the negotiating team "couldn't expect to achieve any more" as Mr Trump's willingness to enter into a 30% trade war was apparent. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ally of Mr Trump, said the US president "ate von der Leyen for breakfast" while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he would support it "without any enthusiasm". Across the bloc, there has been criticism of Europe's perceived capitulation, with many echoing Mr Bayrou's sentiments that it poses fundamental questions about the cohesiveness of the project. German Green MP Sandra Detzer told her parliament that the EU "has agreed to a deal that abandons fundamental principles of rules-based global trade, instead of long-term stability". Ms Detzer's alarm is representative of a particular sharp end of the deal. According to one think tank, the deal will cost the German economy around €6.5bn in terms of its GDP in the first year, while experts have slashed the country's growth forecasts in recent months. Fabio de Masi, a German MEP, told EuroNews this week that not only was the deal bad, it was "a betrayal" for which Ms von der Leyen should resign. The bloc is set to face 15% tariffs on most of its goods including cars, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals entering the US, and 'zero for zero' tariffs on a number of products including aircraft, some agricultural goods and certain chemicals – as well as EU purchases of US energy worth €643bn over three years. But as the tariffs were set to kick in on Friday, the two sides had not agreed on all of the details, which Ms von der Leyen's commission has stressed will be a "set of principles" and not a trade deal. On Thursday, commission spokesperson Olof Gill said that "from there will flow the additional negotiated exemptions that we're looking to bake into our agreement with the US". Drinks tariffs What shape those carveouts take is still to be decided, with a 15% tariff applying until they are. That is of particular concern to the drinks industry across the continent. From Irish whiskey to French and Spanish wines, exporters across Europe have been arguing for a carveout on their products. The US tariff on European spirits is currently 10%. Brussels is keen to reduce that to zero or, for wine at least, to the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates that are set on a fixed cost per litre basis, rather than in percentage terms. Until recently, spirits had benefited from zero tariffs between the US and EU following an agreement in 1997 that also included other countries such as Canada and Japan. That lasted until 2018, when the EU response to US steel and aluminium tariffs included increased duties on US bourbon and other spirits. These were suspended in 2021. From Irish whiskey to French and Spanish wines, exporters across Europe have been arguing for a carveout on their products. File photo US most-favoured-nation rates for wine are 19.8c per litre for sparkling and 6.3c per litre for most other wine, which equates to very low rates in most cases. But as Mr Trump signed an executive order overnight into Friday, there was no movement on the exemption and the drinks industry will, for now at least, pay the 15% rate. With EU officials privately briefing Reuters that negotiations could run into late autumn, that will mean financial pain for those businesses in the short-term, at least. Speaking to journalists at a press conference on Thursday, commission spokesperson Olof Gill said: 'The commission remains determined to achieve and secure the maximum number of carve-outs, including for traditional EU products such as wine and spirits. 'It is not our expectation that wine and spirits would be included as an exemption in the first group announced by the US tomorrow, and therefore that sector, as with all other economic sectors, will be captured by the 15% ceiling.' Motor tariffs In Germany, a number of car manufacturers revised down profit guidance on the back of the tariffs, which will face a 15% tariff as well, but for BMW, the impact of the agreement was "exaggerated". 'I think this tariff discussion is way exaggerated and also its effects on the industry,' chief executive Oliver Zipse told the Financial Times. 'What's more important is the question, are the products attractive?' Carveouts At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, enterprise minister Peter Burke updated ministers on the detail of the weekend's agreement, telling journalists that there will be exemptions to the tariff regime, with aviation one for which Ireland had successfully argued alongside others. 'The key thing is that there will be a number of carveouts. Obviously, aviation has been cited as zero-for-zero, but also in relation to agri-foods and potentially spirits.' Ireland, like many other countries, is banking on the carveouts agreed protecting key sectors like agri-foods and that the rate for pharmaceuticals would not exceed 15%. Like many countries across Europe, ministers here are privately saying that the deal is far from ideal, but also query what else is to be done. By Friday, they could point to Mr Trump's executive order, which imposed tariffs on many countries with whom he had not negotiated. But there is also acceptance that the tariff regime brings with it a new reality, one with which the EU needs to grapple. If countries are arguing for exceptions, how does the European negotiating team balance those interests? And what will the reaction be when the final deal is reached?
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'Overregulation' could force US companies to pull investments in EU
A delegation from the US Congress has visited Dublin and warned that US companies could pull back on investment in the European Union over what the members described as excessive regulation. The members, led by Chair of the House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan, met Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne and media regulator Coimisiún na Meán, as well as with representatives from Apple and Meta. The delegation also visited Brussels and London in recent days. Congressman Scott Fitzgerald said the US companies they have met are very frustrated that they are being "overregulated". "America innovates, China replicates and Europe regulates," Mr Fitzgerald said. "The EU is underestimating the level of frustration these companies are expressing and it could force them to pull back on the amount of business that they are doing here in Europe." Mr Jordan said that during the meeting with Coimisiún na Meán Executive Chair Jeremy Godfrey, the delegation expressed concerns that US companies are being overregulated. "We heard from Mr Godfrey the same argument we've heard from everyone else, that they are for free expression and that they follow the direction of the EU. "When we are with the EU, they talk about the 27 member states having their own way of doing things. "So there is a back and forth - EU to Dublin, Dublin to EU - but who is really in charge? "It seems like two layers of bureaucracy that, in our judgement, are infringing on speech and are harmful to American companies," Mr Jordan said. In a post on LinkedIn, Coimisiún na Meán said that it spoke about the critically important role that independent regulation plays in upholding everyone's fundamental rights online, including freedom of expression, in Ireland and across the EU. "We also discussed our work to ensure that online platforms protect the privacy, safety and security of children and young people and the responsibility these platforms have to prevent their services from being used to spread terrorist and extremist content," the commission said.
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Deaths from Putin's vicious Kyiv strike rise to 31 including 5 kids as tyrant snubs Trump deadline to keep up onslaught
THE true horror of Russia's missile onslaught on innocent civilians in Kyiv became clear early today as the death toll rose 31, including five children. Donald Trump branded Vladimir Putin's tactics 'disgusting' as rescuers worked through the night to search for any survivors and pull bodies from the ruins. Advertisement 9 Rescuers work at the site of an apartment building which was hit by Russia missiles Credit: Reuters 9 Emergency workers face the grim task of searching the rubble Credit: Reuters 9 A car damaged during Russian missile and drone strikes Credit: Reuters 9 Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko at the site of destruction Credit: Reuters 9 A view at a residential building damaged by a Russian attack in Kyiv Credit: Getty "The youngest child was only two years old. My condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. 159 people were injured, 16 of them children," said President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Once again, such a vile strike by Russia shows that additional pressure on Moscow and sanctions are necessary. "No matter how much the Kremlin denies their effectiveness, they work and must be stronger – hitting everything that allows such strikes to continue. "And it is very important that the world does not remain silent about them. Advertisement READ MORE ON UKRAINE "I thank everyone who has supported our people. We appreciate that President Trump, European leaders, and our other partners clearly see what is happening and condemn Russia." The US revealed secret backchannel talks with Putin's henchmen in recent days have failed to reverse the dictator's refusal to stop the killing. Despite this, Trump is sending his special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow in a bid for a ceasefire ahead of swingeing sanctions being imposed on Russia when a ten day ultimatum expires on August 8. Ten bodies including a dead child were found overnight in the ruins of the collapsed residential tower which was hit by a £2 million Iskander missile in the Svyatoshynskyi district of Kyiv on Thursday. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Latest Another woman was pulled from the rubble this morning, the 24th fatality at this location. In all, the death toll from Putin's strikes on the Ukrainian capital was put at 28 with 159 injured, including 16 children. Girl survives being blasted 100ft from Kyiv tower in Putin blitz Today was declared a day of mourning in Kyiv. A total of 112 people needed help from psychologists after the savage strike by a hi-tech missile against a civilian target. Advertisement More than 2,000 tons of rubble was cleared as the hunt for residents of the apartment building continued. Among the dead was patrol policewoman Liliya Stepanchuk, buried under the rubble of the apartment block. A police statement said: 'The terrorist country [Russia] purposefully kills civilians, strikes at the homes of Ukrainians and mercilessly takes lives… 'Until the last minute, relatives and friends hoped for a miracle… But, unfortunately, there was no miracle.' Advertisement Among the survivors was a girl who fell 100ft on her bed from her ninth floor flat, breaking a leg and losing a tooth, as a result of the missile strike. Speaking in hospital, Veronika said she did not know the fate of her parents. Putin continued the strikes early today, with two children injured on a strike on a house in Dnipropetrovsk region, where a woman, 35, was also wounded. 9 A woman embraces a person as she waits for her son at a site of the destruction Credit: Reuters Advertisement 9 Rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike Credit: EPA 9 People were pulled from the rubble Credit: EPA 9 Ukrainian rescuers carry a survivor on a stretcher Credit: EPA A large-scale fire erupted in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region after a strike, while a man, 63, was killed in a strike on Zaporizhzhia region. Advertisement Ukraine hit Russian port Taganrog, on the Azov Sea, and Putin-controlled Luhansk region. 'Russia - I think it's disgusting what they are doing,' said Trump. 'I think it is disgusting……I think what Russia is doing is very sad.' He vowed to put sanctions on Putin next week unless a ceasefire was called, stressing the dictator's war was killing more Russians than Ukrainians. Advertisement 'A lot of Russians are dying. You have a lot of Russians - more Russians. But Russians are dying, Ukrainians are dying.' But he admitted the sanctions may not halt Putin's relentless warmongering. 'We're gonna put sanctions. I don't know that sanctions bother him….I don't know if that has any effect.' Meanwhile, Witkoff will fly from Israel to Moscow, he announced. Advertisement His secretary of state Marco Rubio revealed backchannel talks, saying: 'We continue to engage with the Russian side….earlier this week on Monday or Tuesday. 'We had a whole conversation with them as well - not with Putin but with some of Putin's top people - in hopes of arriving at some understanding on a path forward that would lead to peace.' But he admitted: 'We've not seen any progress on that.' Meanwhile, Russia sought to tell its people they are under threat from the West, with hardline foreign minister Sergei Lavrov absurdly suggesting his country was threatened by a new 'Fourth Reich' in Germany and Europe. Advertisement He turned on its head the West's concern about Putin's potential threat, and the need for NATO countries to increase defence spending. 'Today, Europe has practically plunged into a Russophobic frenzy, and its militarisation is becoming, in fact, uncontrollable,' said Lavrov, 75. The EU announced plans 'to collect 800 billion euros allegedly for defence needs. 'And recently, the German Chancellor [Friedrich Merz] has allowed himself to speak out on this issue more than anyone else, calling for arming Germany, addressing the issue of universal military service, and again - apparently as before the First and Second World Wars - creating the strongest regular army in Europe. Advertisement 'The German Defence Minister [Boris Pistorius] is not far behind, having dared to declare his readiness to kill Russian soldiers. 'Direct historical parallels suggest themselves: modern Germany, and indeed all of Europe under the current leaders, are degenerating into something like the 'Fourth Reich'. 'The situation is more than alarming.' The girl who fell 100ft said from her hospital bed: 'I fell from the ninth floor. Advertisement 'I just had a broken leg and a tooth was knocked out. 'I was conscious, I was just sleepy and didn't understand what was happening. 'I heard an explosion and a second later I was on the ground. 'I don't know how it happened. Advertisement 'How could I fly nine floors and be left with just a broken leg? 'Most likely, I was actually sitting on the bed and just fell with it. 'I guess that's why I didn't hit myself, because the bed is soft.' But she said: 'I don't know what happened to my father, what happened to my mother. Advertisement 'I don't know where they are yet. What happened to them?' In July the Russians used over 5,100 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine, more than 3,800 'Shaheds [drones], and almost 260 missiles of various types, including 128 ballistic missiles, he said. In Kherson, the Russians killed a mother outside her home. Her three daughters are now in shock. Advertisement A regional administration spokesman said: "At around 6:40 a.m., the occupation forces struck the Dnipro district of Kherson with artillery. "A woman born in 1974 received injuries incompatible with life."
