VATICAN CITY, — Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88, ending his 12-year papacy as the first pontiff from Latin America and first Jesuit pope. 

Following his funeral, preparations can begin in earnest to launch the centuries-old process of electing a new pope.

After Saturday’s funeral, the Church enters a nine-day period of official mourning known as the “novendiali.” During this solemn time, cardinals from around the world will continue arriving in Rome to prepare for the conclave that will elect the next pope.

According to Catholic tradition, the conclave must begin between 15 and 20 days after the declaration of “sede vacante” (Latin for “the seat is vacant”). It’s likely this will begin in the first week of May. 

Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the papal conclave. These cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel for secret ballot sessions, following procedures that have evolved over centuries.

After each voting session, the ballots are burned in a special stove. Black smoke signals that no pope has been elected, while white smoke indicates that the cardinals have successfully chosen the new leader of the Catholic Church.

While historically some conclaves have lasted months, modern papal elections tend to be much shorter. Since 1900, no conclave has lasted more than four days. The 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis was one of the shortest in history, concluding in just over 24 hours.

While technically any baptized Catholic male could be elected pope, the last time someone outside the College of Cardinals was chosen was in 1378. Several cardinals are considered potential contenders, often referred to as “papabile.”

Pope Francis made history as the first Jesuit pope and first pope from the Americas. His successor will now lead the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics following his significant 12-year papacy that ended on Easter Monday, 2025.