when is papal conclave

The papal conclave to elect the next pope was scheduled to begin on May 7, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. The conclave took place in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, where cardinal electors under the age of 80 gathered to vote. The voting process started on the afternoon of May 7, 2025, with cardinals taking an oath of secrecy before casting ballots. The conclave involved 133 cardinal electors who participated in multiple rounds of voting until Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on May 8, 2025. He took the papal name Leo XIV. The procedure followed the traditional rules where a two-thirds majority is needed to elect the pope, and if no candidate is elected after several rounds, voting pauses to allow for prayer and discussion. In summary, the conclave began on May 7, 2025, and concluded on May 8, 2025, with the election of the new pope Leo XIV.