when is the new pope chosen

The new pope is chosen during a papal conclave, which typically begins about 15 to 20 days after the previous pope's passing. For example, after the death of Pope Francis, the conclave to select his successor began on May 7, 2025. During the conclave, around 130 cardinal electors under the age of 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel and vote in secret. A two-thirds majority vote is required to elect the new pope, and they continue voting (up to four times a day) until a decision is reached. The voting is signaled to the public by smoke from a chimney on the Sistine Chapel: black smoke means no decision yet, and white smoke means a new pope has been chosen. Once elected, the new pope accepts the position, chooses a papal name, and is then announced to the world from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. In 2025, this process took under two days, with the new pope, Robert Prevost (Pope Leo XIV), being elected on May 8th, shortly after the conclave began on May 7th.