Vatican sets May 7 for start of secret conclave to elect new Pope

The Vatican has announced that the secret conclave to elect the next pope will officially begin on May 7 inside the Sistine Chapel.

The gathering will bring together about 135 cardinals from different parts of the world to choose a successor following the death of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, and his funeral was held this past Saturday, drawing mourners from across the globe.

His death has now set in motion the traditional process where cardinals, meeting behind closed doors, cast their votes to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church.

The Vatican confirmed that the meeting will be conducted in complete secrecy, as is custom, inside the historic Sistine Chapel. "Cardinals will meet next month in a secret conclave to elect the next pope," the Vatican stated.

Although the conclave is scheduled to begin on 7 May, there is no fixed period set for how long it may take to elect the new pope.

However, recent history shows that the selection process has not been lengthy.

The previous two conclaves, held in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II and in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, both concluded within two days.

The upcoming conclave is expected to follow the same procedures, with cardinals participating in several rounds of balloting until one candidate receives the required majority to be declared pope.

Tradition, ceremony, and strict rules around confidentiality will be key elements as the Catholic Church moves into this important phase.

With the conclave date now set, attention will turn to the cardinals, many of whom have already begun private discussions and considerations ahead of the voting.

As history has shown, the final decision can sometimes come faster than anticipated once the voting begins.