According toJohn Paul II's 1996 apostolic constitutionUniversi Dominici gregis, as amended byBenedict XVI's 2013 apostolic letterNormas nonnullas,[2][3] thecardinals had at least 15 days after theHoly See became vacant to convene. The cardinals had the discretion to start the conclave earlier or up to 20 days after the pope'scathedra became vacant.[2] On 28 April 2025, two days after Francis's funeral,[4] the fifth general congregation of the cardinals set the conclave to begin on 7 May 2025.[5][6]
Cardinals aged 80 years or older on the day before the papacy fell vacant were ineligible to participate. At the time of Francis' death, there were 252 cardinals, of whom 135 were under 80 and thus were not precluded from participation and voting in the conclave.[7] Of these potential electors, 108 (80%) had been elevated to the College of Cardinals by Francis;[8][9] the cardinal electors were also global and more diverse than in any prior conclave — they came from more than 70 countries and in many cases were the first cardinal ever appointed from their country.[10]
Since the 1975 promulgation ofRomano Pontifici eligendo byPope Paul VI and the 1996 apostolic constitutionUniversi Dominici gregis byPope John Paul II, the maximum number of cardinal electors had been 'set' at 120.[11][12] At 133, the 2025 conclave was the largest ever,[13] and the first conclave where this purported limit was exceeded on the day the papacy became vacant.[a][14] Any cardinal under the age of 80 not having renounced or lost his voting rights has the right to vote in a conclave underCatholic canon law. A pope appointing more than 120 eligible cardinal electors effectively renders the 1975 limit inapplicable,[15] as popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis all did;[14] although in the cases of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, the 120 limit at the conclave was not surpassed.[11]
On 30 April 2025, the general congregation of cardinals confirmed that all cardinal electors present for the conclave beginning on 7 May could vote.[16] Ineligible cardinals could nevertheless attend the general congregations and participate in discussions preceding the conclave.[17] Although the conclave cardinals have the authority to elect any Catholic male who has beenbaptized,[3] the last time a non-cardinal was elected was in the1378 conclave.[18][19]
After saying he would try to participate in the conclave,[20] CardinalGiovanni Angelo Becciu, who had "renounced his rights as a cardinal" in 2020 due to his involvement in a financial scandal,[21] stated that he would abide by Francis's wish that he refrain from participating.[22] Health problems prevented cardinalsAntonio Cañizares Llovera of Spain andJohn Njue of Kenya from participating in the conclave,[23] reducing the number of potential electors to 133; accordingly, the two-thirds supermajority required to elect the new pope was determined at 89 votes. This was the largest number of cardinal electors ever to participate and vote in a conclave.[24]
Francis's hospitalization in February and March 2025 fueled speculation about an impending conclave.[25] Due to the major international expansion of the membership of the College of Cardinals under Francis to 252, with over 140 non-Europeancardinals appointed during his pontificate, some observers had suggested a non-European pope was likely.[7][15] The 2025 conclave was initially planned to have 135 electors from 71 countries; the 2013 and 2005 conclaves had had 115 electors from 48 and 52 countries respectively. Some of the participating cardinals did not speak Italian, theworking language of the Roman Curia.[26]
Following the Italian saying "fat pope, thin pope", some commentators predicted that Francis's successor would be more conservative.[15][27] There were also concerns of interference, which had been prohibited in 1996 by John Paul II,[28] and a potential hostile takeover byultraconservative politicians and Catholics.[29][30] As of the third and fourth general congregations, there was reportedly a desire among the cardinals for a ten-year pope, someone in his late seventies with experience in theRoman Curia who would be more focused on internal affairs.[31]
Some commentators posited a younger pope as more likely;[32] others felt that cardinals likePierbattista Pizzaballa andRobert Prevost were too young.[7][33][34] Many cardinals expressed hope for a short conclave, as in 2005 and 2013.[35] Given the complexities and heterogeneity of this conclave,[36] compared to the two-day one that elected Francis in 2013,[37] CardinalRainer Woelki expected the 2025 conclave to take longer;[37] the CardinalsLouis Raphaël I Sako andGregorio Rosa Chávez anticipated a short conclave of two or three days,[38][39] with the latter remarking "maximum three days".[40][41]
Robert Prevost, the eventual elected pope, was speculated on aspapabile,[51][52][53] being the prefect of the powerfulDicastery for Bishops,[54] an ally of Francis, and a possible compromise candidate;[55][56] however, he was considered adark horse,[49] and his American nationality had been regarded as a potential stumbling block to his candidacy, reflecting unease about enhancing the United States's geopolitical power after the re-election ofDonald Trump in 2024.[49][57] Supporters argued that Prevost represented a "dignified middle of the road".[55] Some commentators felt that a non-European pope was likely due to the increased numbers of African and Asian cardinals,[7][15] which reportedly ultimately collapsed Parolin's candidacy.[50] By contrast, others felt that a European pope was a more likely outcome,[49] remaining convinced that the reasons for why an American pope had never been elected before, namely the American status assuperpower,[58][59] still applied. James Bretzke, a theology professor atJohn Carroll University in Ohio, toldUSA Today that the best possible candidate was one who could be a diplomat, adding: "America's image in the world simply is too powerful – and to be blunt, ugly."[49]
Before the announcement of the conclave itself, prediction markets were using market mechanisms to calculate who might be in the running and their putative rankings.[60][61][62] Upon Francis's death, the top five contenders were Tagle, Parolin, Zuppi, Ambongo, and Erdő, all of whom had been cited by Vatican journalists and analysts aspapabili.[63] On the day of Prevost's election, the leading candidates onPolymarket were Parolin at 37%, Tagle at 26%, Pizzaballa at 10%, Erdő at 8%, Turkson at 7%, Sarah at 4%, and Zuppi at 3%. Parolin's odds to be named as the new pope jumped to nearly 70% after the white smoke was revealed, with many suspecting that the relatively short four-round conclave indicated a consensus candidate had been chosen.[64]
Fantapapa (Italian for 'Fantasy Pope') was afantasy league based in Italy for betting nominal sums onpapal conclaves. Established by anti-gambling advocates Pietro Pace and Mauro Vanetti specifically for the 2025 conclave,[65] the sole payout was "eternal glory". By 5 May 2025, it had 75,000 players in Italy, where no licensed platform offers gambling on conclaves.[66] Fantapapa players chose from and ranked eleven cardinals; other aspects of the conclave, such as the papal name, language, number of rounds, and the day on which white smoke appears, were also available to bet on. Players gained points in accordance to their team members being "mentioned prominently" in domestic and international media coverage. The fantasy league was open to punters internationally and also offered mini-lessons in the Italian language.[67]
Following the death of Pope Francis, preparations began at Domus Sanctae Marthae for housing the cardinal electors. These included setting up barriers or opaque film at the windows to prevent outside contact and the construction of spaces for the celebration of theSacrament of Penance, private prayer, and meals.[68][69]Signal jammers were used to isolate the electors fromBluetooth,Wi-Fi, andmobile networks.[69][70][71] Because the building has only 129 bedrooms, it was necessary to provide accommodations for the 133 electors and support personnel,[72][73][74] who stayed at Santa Marta Vecchia, next door to the main dormitory.[75][76][77]
In the Sistine Chapel, preparations included the addition of tables and chairs in the manner ofchoir stalls and the covering of windows; the ballot-burning stove and the chimney, which together serve to signal the results to the outside world, were installed,[78][79] as was a temporary wooden floor which served to protect the marble inlay, provide a more level surface, and hide electronic signal jammers.[79][80] Both the Domus Sanctae Marthae and the Sistine Chapel were thoroughly inspected in advance of the conclave for any unauthorized devices.[69] On 2 May,Vatican firefighters installed the chimney for the Sistine Chapel.[81]
According to Catholic canon law, general congregations are daily meetings of all cardinals regardless of elector status and begin before all of the elector cardinals arrive in Rome. The initial meetings are focused on the logistics of the papal funeral and the conclave, including physical preparations at the Domus Sanctae Marthae (as a dormitory) and the Sistine Chapel (as a polling place). Later ones, typically the eighth and following, shift to discussions about the needs of the church and the world, and the issues facing the Roman Curia.[83][84][85] These later general congregations are guided by the reflections given by two "distinguished and morally authoritative" clerics who are selected by the cardinals.[86] The cardinals are also given the opportunity to make formal remarks regarding the issues facing the church.[87] All of these speeches and discussions are termedinterventi ("interventions") in Italian.[88] The general congregations meet in the New Synod Hall, on the first floor of the vestibule of the much largerPaul VI Audience Hall.[89][90] For the 2025 conclave, the general congregations met every day from 22 April following Francis's death until 6 May,[91] excluding 26–27 April,[92] 1 May,[93] and 4 May,[94] with the beginning of the conclave proper on 7 May.[95]
General congregations allow the cardinals to meet on their own initiative, thereby getting to know each other and exercise theirspiritual discernment; many had never met,[96] as Francis did not hold meetings of cardinals before hispapal consistories.[97][a] Furthermore, the cardinals have full access to global media and their diverse analyses and criteria for identifying thepapabile.[98] Before leaving for Rome on 24 April, CardinalPablo Virgilio David stressed that a conclave is not a political campaign but areligious retreat. He also emphasized that it is a duty of theCollege of Cardinals to discern each other via prayer,personal letters, and even research on a website with biographical and other information set up for that purpose,[99] and that it is not a matter ofcandidates.[100] Both the formal and informal discussions are expected to be very substantive in preparation for, and in the hope of, a speedy conclave.[101][102] The discussions held at cardinals' own initiative—pratiche, or exercises—are the most frank and candid.[103] By canon law, the congregations are bound to the same secrecy as the conclave.[104]
On 22 April, members of thepapal staff and household were asked to vacate their rooms at the Domus Sanctae Marthae following the death of Pope Francis in his suite on the second floor to allow for conclave preparations in that building to begin.[68] The same day, the first of twelve general congregations were held. At the first congregation, the approximately sixty cardinals present listened toKevin Farrell, theCardinal Camerlengo, read thewill and testament of Francis. The canonization ofCarlo Acutis, originally scheduled to take place in Rome on 27 April, was suspended, and the cardinals confirmed the date for the papal funeral. This meeting also dealt with the logistics of the funeral.[105][106] The attending cardinals took the oath of secrecy concerning their meetings.[107] Despite the fact that general congregations are closed to non-cardinals, SisterSimona Brambilla, areligious sister and the first woman to head a Vatican department (theDicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life), was accidentally sent a standard email inviting her to participate.[108] On 23 April, theVatican Museums announced the closure of the Sistine Chapel beginning on 28 April, due to the needs of the conclave.[109][110] At the second congregation, the program for thenovendiales, or nine-day period of mourning for the deceased pope, was approved.[111] CardinalNorberto Rivera Carrera stated to the press that these discussions had been mostly procedural in nature, as many cardinals from around the world were still traveling.[112]
Cardinals and bishops in theNew Synod Hall (pictured in 2014), one of the venues for the general congregations
The third congregation on 24 April, with 113 cardinals present, saw the appointment of the two conclave preachers,Donato Ogliari and CardinalRaniero Cantalamessa.[113][114] At the fourth general congregation on 25 April, the 149 cardinals in attendance listened to a presentation on Francis's funeral rite.[115] By this time nearly 70 formal speeches, or "interventions", had been given.[116] There was also discussion concerning the status of Giovanni Angelo Becciu as a cardinal elector among the participants, which continued in the following congregations until his 29 April acceptance of his non-elector status.[21]
The fifth general congregation on 28 April determined that the conclave would begin on 7 May, sixteen days following Francis's death.[5][117] This meeting also discussed theclerical sexual abuse crisis, challenges inevangelization, andecumenism. Twenty cardinals delivered interventions.[118] Conservative cardinals, such asGerhard Müller andFrancis Arinze (not an elector), were particularly vocal during this session.[119][120] The next day, at the sixth congregation on 29 April, the start time for the conclave was set at 4:30p.m., andCardinal Re was chosen as the celebrant for the opening Mass for the conclave.[121]Donato Ogliari gave his scheduled reflection to the 183 cardinals present, 124 of them being electors, emphasizing the theme of synodality from the Francis papacy.[119][121][122]
The seventh congregation on 30 April featured a discussion of the Vatican's financial issues by the 180 cardinals present, 124 of whom were electors.[123][124]Rainer Woelki stated that the meetings thus far had been "fraternal and cordial... a very concentrated, calm, factual working atmosphere".[37]Beniamino Stella, not an elector, made a very strongly-worded critique of Francis's decision to allowlay persons to exercise powers of church governance formerly reserved toclergy. This surprised many cardinals, as Stella was viewed as one of Francis's most trusted advisors and a prominent supporter of Parolin.[125][126][127]
The general congregation did not meet on 1 May, the feast ofSaint Joseph the Worker, apublic holiday for theHoly See and an ecclesiastical counterpart to the secularInternational Workers' Day observed on the same day.[128] TheNational Catholic Reporter's Rome bureau reported that Prevost was "emerging as a serious frontrunner".[129] At the ninth congregation on 2 May, 177 cardinals were present, of whom 127 were electors. Twenty-six cardinals spoke. Among the subjects discussed were: communion (koinonia) within the church and fraternity in and with the world; the hope of some that the next pope would be 'prophetic'; and the2025 Jubilee.[130] The tenth and eleventh congregations were both held on 5 May and discussed a wide range of church topics.[131][132] On 6 May, the twelfth and final congregation of the College of Cardinals took place.[133] This congregation witnessed the ceremonial destruction of Francis' symbols of office: hisfisherman's ring andlead seal.[133]
On 7 May, the conclave began. It was preceded by CardinalGiovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, celebrating the Masspro eligendo Pontifice (lit.'for the election of the Pontiff') inSt. Peter's Basilica at 10amCEST (08:00 UTC).[134] All support staff, such assacristans, medical staff, elevator operators, and the director of security services for the Vatican, along with officers and officials of the conclave, had taken their solemn oath of secrecy on 5 May.[76][135] At 4:30pm, the conclave officially began with a prayer service in thePauline Chapel, at the end of which the electors entered the Sistine Chapel in procession. Once there, the hymnVeni Creator Spiritus ("Come, Creator Spirit") was sung and the 133 cardinal electors then swore themselves to secrecy.[80][121][136] Each cardinal elector in order of seniority placed his hands on aBook of the Gospels and made the affirmation aloud in Latin:[137]
Et ego [prænomen]Cardinalis [nomen]spondeo, voveo ac iuro. Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec Sancta Dei Evangelia, quae manu mea tango.[138]
Translation:
And I, [forename] Cardinal [surname], do so promise, pledge, and swear. So help me God and these Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand.[137]
While making the oath, several cardinals used the Latin forms of their names.[139]Diego Ravelli, thepapal master of ceremonies, then called out the wordsExtra omnes, a command for everyone who is not a cardinal elector or an official of the conclave to leave the chamber.[139] He then shut the entrance to the Sistine Chapel at 5:46p.m.[136][139] CardinalRaniero Cantalamessa, the longtime Capuchin preacher of the pontifical household, then offered a reflection to the cardinals behind the closed doors.[140] Reportedly, the remarks lasted for over an hour, delaying the start of the first ballot (and, consequently, the smoke reporting out its results); at one point, CardinalParolin asked the assembled cardinal electors if they wanted to postpone the first vote until the next morning — (they did not).[141]
Given the conclave had begun in the afternoon, only a single ballot was held on this first day.[5] According to some reports, Parolin, the frontrunner, received more than 40 votes on the first ballot, while the rest of the field was considerably split.[50][142][143] According to other reports,Prevost was the most voted candidate in the first ballot, slightly above Parolin, withPéter Erdő, one of the main conservative candidates, in third place.[144][145] The first day of the conclave ended at 9:00p.m., after black smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signifying that the vote taken had not resulted in the election of a new pope.[139]Vatican Media reported that up to 45,000 people had gathered inSt. Peter's Square to await the smoke.[146]
White smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney. Faithful onlookers rejoiced, shouting "Habemus papam!" (Latin for 'We have a pope') and "Viva il papa!" (Italian for 'Long live the pope') inSt. Peter's Square.Pope Leo XIV on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica following his election
The second day of the conclave began with two ballots, concluding at approximately 10:30a.m. and 11:45a.m., respectively.[147] Black smoke appeared at 11:51a.m., again signifying that no pope had been elected. Smoke is not produced after each ballot, but rather only at the end of each session (ballot cards from two unsuccessful votes in a morning session or two votes in an afternoon session are usually burned together once each pair of votes has been completed).[148][149][150] According to several reports, during this morning session of day 2, Cardinal Parolin received 40 to 50 votes but failed to pick up support from African and Asian cardinals, some of whom started to support Prevost. Pope Francis's strongest supporters were divided between CardinalsJean-Marc Aveline (France) andMario Grech (Malta), while Asian cardinals were splitting their votes between the two Filipino CardinalsLuis Antonio Tagle andPablo Virgilio David. Cardinal Prevost enjoyed broad support from South American andAnglosphere cardinals, thanks also to the strong support ofTimothy Dolan, who supposedly functioned as something of akingmaker.[50][143][151] The cardinals then returned to the Domus Sanctae Marthae for lunch,[152] where the breadth of support for Prevost became clearer.[142][141] By the end of the morning session, there were 15,000 people in St. Peter's Square and 5,000 people at the basilica ofSanta Maria Maggiore. More were expected during the afternoon session, since in the two most recent conclaves a new pope had been elected on either the fourth or fifth ballot.[153]
After the lunch recess, the cardinals returned to the Sistine Chapel for the next and fourth round of voting.[152] The cardinals' support coalesced around Prevost, who received more than the two-thirds majority of 89 required: he reportedly received more than 100 votes on the fourth (and final) ballot.[142][151][154]
Parolin, as the most senior cardinal in the conclave, asked Prevost if he accepted his election as Supreme Pontiff, and by whatpapal name he would be known. Having quietly accepted his election, Prevost announced to the cardinals his chosen papal nameLeo,[142] chosen at least in part to honorPope Leo XIII.[155][156] Following the pope's acceptance of his election, the cardinals applauded, and he embraced them. He then exited the Sistine Chapel to the Room of Tears to be robed in the garments prepared there for the new pope.
After the fourth round of voting, white smoke appeared at 6:07p.m., followed by the ringing of the bells of St. Peter's Basilica, confirming and signifying the election of a new pope.[157][158][159] Soon afterwards, theSwiss Guard and members of theItalian Armed Forces, along with the bands of theGendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State and theCarabinieri, paraded through St. Peter's Square and took up formation beneath the centralloggia of St. Peter's Basilica. From there, Cardinal ProtodeaconDominique Mamberti announced the election of Prevost[160] and that he had taken the papal nameLeo XIV.[161][162]
External video
Announcement of the election of Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV
Leo XIV stepped onto the balcony shortly after the official announcement of his election, spoke to the crowd in St. Peter's Square and the world in Italian (while also briefly speaking inPeruvian Spanish to acknowledge theDiocese of Chiclayo, where he previously served as Bishop), expressed gratitude for Francis's legacy,[163] then delivered theUrbi et Orbi blessing.[160] He was accompanied by Ravelli, Marco Agostini, and Jean-Jacques Didier Bouable, who led the group ascross-bearer. The three were from theOffice for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.[citation needed]
Immediately after the appearance of white smoke, 40,000 were present in St. Peter's Square;[164] according to Italian law enforcement, by the time of thehabemus papam announcement, there were up to 150,000 in the square.[165]
The Holy See Press Office announced the schedule of activities and liturgical celebrations following the election of Pope Leo XIV.[166] He celebrated his first Mass as pope with theCollege of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel at 11:00 am on 9 May 2025, the day after his election.[167] On 10 May 2025, he met the College of Cardinals in the Synod Hall.[168] In the morning of 11 May, he celebrated a private Mass at theVatican Grottoes,[169] paying homage to his predecessors, before delivering his firstRegina caeli address from the central loggia ofSt. Peter's Basilica.[170] After the address, Leo broke the seals to thepapal apartments of theApostolic Palace, accompanied by Parolin and Farrell.[171]
^Flynn, JD; Condon, Ed; Beltrán, Edgar (26 April 2025).Ep. 209: What Cardinals Want.The Pillar (1 hour video).Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved26 April 2025.
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Announcement of the election of Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV
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