A Full Breakdown of How the Next Pope Is Picked

While Francis’ views were considered revolutionary in the Catholic faith, he otherwise upheld its tradition. The late pope affirmed in an interview with the Associated Press in 2023 that while homosexuality is not a “crime,” in the Catholic church any sexual act outside of marriage is considered a sin. He added, “It’s also a sin to lack charity with one another.”

Francis—born in Argentina and made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001—also took over the papacy just two years after the retranslation of the Roman Missal took effect, which signified minor changes to the Mass following the translation of ceremony from Latin to English in the 1960s. 

With Francis’ tragic death, comes a time for a new chapter in the Catholic Church. Keep reading for how the election of a new pope works…

When does the election for the pope begin? 

In prior years, cardinals have begun to gather and vote for the new pope within 20 days of the former’s death or resignation. Leading up to the actual election, a number of pre-Conclave meetings are held to organize and orchestrate the election. 

Who chooses the new pope?

The new pope is elected by a pool of cardinals, who are the highest chief officials in the Catholic Church after the pope himself. Cardinals are hand-selected by a pope and are typically already bishops—which is the next highest rank above a priest and a deacon in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. (All bishops elected must have been a priest for at least five years, and all priests must be men above the age of 25 who have taken a vow of celibacy.)

Only 120 cardinals—there are currently about 200 worldwide—who are under the age of 80 are allowed to vote in a conclave, and the pool is known as the “cardinal electors,” who must take an oath of secrecy before participating in a pope election.

Is Conclave an accurate depiction of how a pope is chosen? 

Conclave—the 2024 film starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow—is mostly accurate to how an election process for a new pope works, save for the dramatic aspects of the film. The process of the cardinals sequestering themselves in the Sistine Chapel and voting by a secret ballot does, indeed, take place during an actual conclave.  

What is the role of the black and white smoke in choosing a new pope?

The “fumata bianca,” or white smoke signifies the successful election of a new pope. Each time a vote is taken, smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. If the vote is inconclusive and the verdict on a new pope has not been reached, the smoke is black. If a pope has been chosen, it is white—and signifies that the new pope will soon present themselves to Vatican City. 

How long does the election of a pope take? 

A conclave will last until a singular candidate receives at least two-thirds of the vote from the pool of eligible cardinals, with a typical four ballots being cast each day. Pope Francis’ election lasted about 28 hours, or two days, before he was announced as Benedict XVI’s successor. The longest conclave ever was held in 1268, which lasted 34 months. 

When was the last time a new pope was elected?

The election of a new pope typically only occurs after the death of a previous pope. However, Pope Francis had been elected in extraordinary circumstances. In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI had resigned from the position—the first to step down from the papacy since Gregory XII in 1415, and the first to do so voluntarily since Celestine V in 1294. 

At the time, Benedict—who died in 2022 at the age of 95—said in a statement regarding his resignation issued by the Vatican, “Both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”