Conclave on May 7: Who will be the new Pope of 1.4 billion Catholics?

Conclave on May 7: Who will be the new Pope of 1.4 billion Catholics?

Vatikanstadt, Vatikan - On April 28, 2025, the Vatican announced that the conclave will begin to choose a successor for Pope Francis on May 7. This information was announced during a general congregation of the cardinals, which was the first since Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday. In this conclave, 135 cardinals under the age of 80 will take part in the election and come from different parts of the world. Your task is to determine the head of the Catholic Church, which counts 1.4 billion members. The date will be announced shortly after it was determined in the Congregation General. Historically, the last complies took place in 2005 and 2013 and each lasted about two days, which is relatively short compared to the history of the conclave.

The pope election has an eventful story with significant turning points. A remarkable example of the duration of a compliance is the election in 1268 in Viterbo, which took almost three years. Finally, there was a successor. This type of jingle meant that Gregor X. introduced rules in 1274 that held the cardinals during the election in the polling station. Such measures to ensure a quick decision are not new, because as early as the 12th century, Pope elections belonged to an open process in which secular rulers have had an impact.
Welt reports that according to the canonical law, the Pope has "highest, full, immediate and universal ordinary violence" and is infallible in its judgment.

The development of the election procedures

Today's election processes are the result of centuries. In 1179, Pope Alexander III. stipulates that a two -thirds majority of the cardinals is required to choose a Pope. The term “conclave” comes from a pope election in the 13th century. At that time, the cardinals were enclosed by the population to accelerate the election, which also shows some of the more brutal aspects of historical pope elections. In 1315, for example, the election lasted two years after the death of Clemens V, since the influence of the French kings made the decision.
After the introduction of clear hygiene improvements, the elections generally took between one day and four days. The influence of rulers on the pope election has decreased over the centuries, especially after the Bishop of Rome became independent of secular powers.

The upcoming conclave not only represents a turning point in the history of the Catholic Church, but is also a moment when the development and challenges of the electoral process become clear. The choice of the new Pope is eagerly awaited and will decisively influence the further direction of the Catholic Church.