…Conclave to elect new Pope set for May
By Sadeeq Kamsela with agency report
Cardinals of the Catholic Church are convening in Rome to determine the date for a papal conclave that will elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.
The conclave is anticipated to commence on May 7, 2025, following the conclusion of the Vatican’s nine-day mourning period.
As dozens of red-robed cardinals—referred to as the “Princes of the Church”—gathered at the Vatican at 9 a.m. local time on Monday, Vatican observers suggest that the secretive voting process to choose the next pontiff could begin as early as May 5, shortly after the traditional nine-day mourning period concludes.
Out of the Church’s 252 cardinals, 135 are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in the conclave, as required by Church law. These electors have returned to Rome from across the globe, many meeting one another for the first time.
However, the cardinals have already held four preliminary sessions, known as “general congregations,” last week. These meetings serve both as an opportunity for them to discuss the state of the Church and to become better acquainted ahead of the vote.
The conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy.
Pope Francis’ Legacy and Passing
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected as the 266th pope on March 13, 2013. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere. Known for his humility, emphasis on mercy, and commitment to interfaith dialogue, he made significant strides in reforming the Vatican and advocating for the marginalised. His papacy was marked by efforts to address clergy sexual abuse, though survivors have expressed concerns about the pace and depth of reforms.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City. His passing followed a recent hospitalisation for pneumonia. He was laid to rest on April 26 in a private ceremony at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, becoming the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
His tomb, inscribed with “Franciscus,” reflects his lifelong commitment to simplicity.
