Conclave to pick next pope to begin May 7, Vatican says

The conclave to prime the adjacent pope volition statesman connected Wednesday, May 7, according to the Vatican. 

The day was confirmed Monday by papal spokesperson Matteo Bruni pursuing the April 21 decease of Pope Francis. 

The Vatican besides announced "the Sistine Chapel volition beryllium closed to the nationalist from Monday 28 April 2025 for the requirements of the Conclave."

An estimated 200,000 people attended a peculiar Mass astatine St. Peter's Basilica connected Sunday by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's caput of state.  

CONCLAVE ‘VERY, VERY DIFFERENT’ FROM US ELECTIONS; ‘ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN,’ ACCORDING TO EXPERT 

Pope Francis appears connected the cardinal lodge of St. Peter's Basilica to bestow a blessing astatine the extremity of the Easter mass, presided implicit by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, successful St. Peter's Square astatine the Vatican connected Sunday, April 20. (AP/Gregorio Borgia)

"The shepherd whom the Lord gave to his people, Pope Francis, has ended his earthly beingness and has near us," Parolin said successful his homily. "The grief astatine his departure, the consciousness of sadness that assails us, the turmoil we consciousness successful our hearts, the consciousness of bewilderment: we are experiencing each of this, similar the apostles grieving implicit the decease of Jesus. Yet, the Gospel tells america that it is precisely successful these moments of acheronian that the Lord comes to america with the airy of the resurrection, to illuminate our hearts." 

Parolin – a adjacent collaborator of Francis – is considered No. 2 astatine the Vatican and is 1 of the imaginable contenders to beryllium the adjacent pope.

Pope Francis chose his spot of burial successful St. Mary Major Basilica successful Rome, adjacent an icon of the Madonna that helium revered, due to the fact that it reflects his "humble, elemental and essential" life, the archbishop who administers the basilica said Friday.

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: FROM JOHN PAUL II TO FRANCIS, COVERING TWO HISTORIC PAPACIES 

Cardinals get to wage their respects to the sedate of the precocious Pope Francis wrong St. Mary Major Basilica successful Rome, connected Sunday, April 27. (AP/Bernat Armangue)

A conclave, organized by the camerlengo, presently Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, begins 15 to 20 days aft the pope’s death. 

"Anything could happen," Tim Gabrielli, subordinate prof and the Gudorf seat successful Catholic intelligence traditions astatine the University of Dayton successful Ohio, told Fox News Digital. 

During a conclave, cardinals ballot done a concealed ballot. A two-thirds bulk is required for the election. After each circular of submissions, ballots are work aloud and past burned. The ashes are utilized to notify audiences astir the satellite and onlookers successful St. Peter’s Square of the election’s status. 

People be a wide presided implicit by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin connected the 2nd of 9 days of mourning for the precocious Pope Francis successful St. Peter's Square, astatine the Vatican, connected Sunday, April 27.  (AP/Andreea Alexandru)

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Black fume from the Sistine Chapel astatine the Vatican indicates a caller circular of voting is acceptable to happen. White fume signals a caller person of the Roman Catholic Church is selected. 

Fox News' Danielle Wallace, Gabriele Regalbuto, Courtney Walsh-Annesi and the Associated Press contributed to this report.