Vatican: The rules, traditions, and restrictions of the Conclave

The opening ceremony of the Conclave is set to take place on the afternoon of 7 May 2025, with 135 cardinals under the age of 80 expected to participate in the election process for the new Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

More specifically, 53 cardinals come from Europe, 37 from North and South America, 23 from Asia, 18 from Africa, and 4 from Oceania.

The vast majority of the high-ranking Roman Catholic clerics with the right to vote and be elected—specifically 110—were appointed by Pope Francis. Among the current cardinal electors, 22 were appointed by Pope Benedict XVI and 5 by Pope John Paul II.

Upon entering the Sistine Chapel, the phrase “extra omnes” (“everyone out”) will be pronounced in Latin, signaling the official start of the election process. According to Roman Catholic tradition, the cardinals must remain completely isolated from the outside world until a new Pope is elected. Two voting sessions are held each day, and a two-thirds majority is required for a successful election, which is traditionally announced by white smoke rising from the well-known chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

After each vote, the ballots must be destroyed. If no successor to the Late Pope Francis is elected by the 34th ballot, the cardinals will have to choose between the two candidates who received the most votes.

The first Conclave with particularly strict rules for the cardinals was held in the city of Viterbo, just outside Rome, in 1274 AD. This rigorous process, which included locking the cardinals in the voting hall and limiting their food supply, was deemed necessary because the cardinals had failed to elect a new Pope for 33 months.

Source: ANA-MPA