Cardinals from 71 countries gathered in the Vatican on Monday to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. A total of 133 cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel for the secretive conclave, where mobile signals were cut and a strict oath of secrecy was taken.
The cardinals will hold their first vote today to elect the 267th pope, with up to four rounds of voting allowed each day. A two-thirds majority is required. White smoke from the chapel chimney will signal the election of a new pontiff, while black smoke will indicate an inconclusive vote.
This conclave includes first-time participating cardinals from 15 countries, such as Haiti, Malaysia, and Myanmar, reflecting Pope Francis’s efforts to diversify Church leadership. The process is expected to take several days.
