The Pope Has Died — Here’s How the Next One Will Be Chosen

With Pope Francis’s death at age 88 confirmed this morning by the Vatican, the Catholic Church has entered a time of mourning and transition.

The Church, home to over 1.4 billion people, now begins a sacred and structured process that has remained unchanged for centuries — the selection of a new pope.

Nine Days of Mourning Begin

Starting today, the Vatican will observe nine official days of mourning. During this period, Pope Francis’s body will lie in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. Thousands are expected to visit and pay their final respects.

A grand funeral mass will take place, attended by world leaders and broadcast worldwide. Pope Francis personally simplified the funeral process last year, requesting a modest wooden coffin and a burial at the Basilica of St. Mary Major rather than the Vatican.

The Ring is Destroyed

As part of tradition, the Pope’s “Fisherman’s Ring” will be ceremonially destroyed. This symbolizes the end of his authority and prevents the seal from being misused after his death.

Then Comes the Conclave

Fifteen to twenty days after the Pope’s death, a group of about 120 senior Church leaders known as cardinals will travel to the Vatican. They will meet in a secret election called the conclave, held inside the Sistine Chapel.

All outside contact is cut off — no phones, no internet, no media. The goal is to ensure decisions are guided purely by prayer and discussion. Cardinals vote up to four times a day using paper ballots. To be elected, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority.

If no one is chosen, the ballots are burned and black smoke rises from the chapel chimney — a signal to the world that the decision has not yet been made. When a new pope is finally chosen, white smoke is released instead.

The New Pope Appears

Within about an hour of the white smoke, the newly elected pope appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and is introduced to the world. He then gives his first public blessing as the leader of the Catholic Church.

A Major Decision for the World

This process has deep importance. The pope leads not just the Catholic Church, but often speaks to broader moral, political, and global issues.

As the world mourns Pope Francis, the attention now turns to who will take his place — and what direction he will lead the Church in the years to come.