The election of a new pope is a sacred and historic tradition watched by millions around the world. From the moment the papacy becomes vacant to the white smoke signaling a new leader, the process is rich in ritual and meaning.
In this guide, we break down from Cardinal to Pope: 10 steps in the papal election process—a journey of prayer, secrecy, and spiritual discernment that leads to the selection of the next leader of the Catholic Church.
10. Vacancy of the Holy See (Sede Vacante)
The papal election process begins with a rare and solemn phase known as Sede Vacante—Latin for “the seat being vacant.” This occurs immediately after a pope dies or resigns. During this period, the Pope’s official seat at St. Peter’s Basilica remains symbolically empty, and the governance of the Catholic Church transitions to the College of Cardinals.
What makes Sede Vacante especially unique is that almost all Vatican business halts. No new laws are passed, no bishops are appointed, and the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics look toward Rome with anticipation. The papal coat of arms changes, too—it’s replaced by the emblem of the Camerlengo, the cardinal who temporarily oversees Vatican affairs. His main duty? To prepare for the conclave, the highly secretive and sacred election of a new pope.
This is where the drama intensifies. The College of Cardinals—those under the age of 80—are summoned to Rome from around the globe. They meet in daily congregations, reflecting and discussing what the Church needs in its next leader. These gatherings help shape the path forward, as cardinals consider a mix of spiritual leadership, global diplomacy, and personal charisma in their deliberations.
It’s during this time that detailed steps on how pope candidates are chosen unfold. Though no official campaigning is allowed, discussions and informal conversations help cardinals form opinions. Eventually, all attention turns to the Sistine Chapel, where the doors are locked, and the secret ballot voting begins. No one leaves until a new pope is chosen—signaled to the world by the famous white smoke rising from the chapel’s chimney.
9. General Congregations
Before the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel swing shut, the cardinals engage in a vital stage of the papal election process: the General Congregations. These are daily meetings held in the days after Sede Vacante begins and before the conclave officially starts. They’re not just administrative—they’re a sacred space for prayer, debate, and deep reflection.
All cardinals, including those over 80 who won’t vote, are invited to participate. These gatherings allow cardinals to speak freely about the needs of the Church and the qualities they believe the next pope must possess. Topics range from theological challenges to global issues like war, poverty, and climate change. The goal? To provide context and spiritual clarity.
It’s in these sessions that relationships are built, impressions are formed, and what happens before cardinals choose pope candidates becomes clear: they listen. Carefully. Intentionally. Names are not officially put forward, but cardinals start to take note of who among them speaks with wisdom, conviction, and vision. This period of reflection shapes the mindset going into the conclave and quietly guides the emergence of likely frontrunners.
At this stage, the world outside can only watch and wait. But inside Vatican walls, the future of the papacy is being sketched in quiet conversation and solemn prayer.
8. Funeral Rites and Mourning After a Pope’s Death
When a pope passes away, the Catholic Church enters a profound period of mourning marked by centuries-old traditions and spiritual solemnity. These funeral rites are not only a farewell to the Vicar of Christ but also the first formal act in the transition to a new pontificate.
The mourning begins with the Rite of Notification—the Camerlengo, the cardinal responsible for managing the Church during Sede Vacante, confirms the pope’s death. The pope’s Fisherman’s Ring, a unique symbol of papal authority, is ceremonially destroyed to prevent forgery and to symbolize the end of the papacy.
Next come the nine days of mourning, known as the Novemdiales. These days are marked by daily Masses and prayers held in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinals, clergy, dignitaries, and thousands of faithful from around the world gather to honor the deceased pontiff. The atmosphere is reverent, heavy with incense and reflection, as the Church grieves while preparing for renewal.
The pope is usually buried in the crypt beneath St. Peter’s Basilica after a grand funeral Mass, attended by world leaders and broadcast across the globe. This moment of global attention underscores the pope’s unique role as a spiritual figure with worldwide influence.
Throughout this time, the Vatican is a place of quiet reverence, its bells tolling in mourning and its flag lowered to half-staff. While the world watches in silence, the Church readies itself for the sacred process of selecting a new leader to continue its mission.
7. The Conclave Begins: A Sacred Election Behind Locked Doors
After the days of mourning and reflection, the Catholic Church moves into its most secretive and solemn tradition: the conclave. This ancient ceremony, whose name comes from the Latin cum clave—meaning “with a key”—literally involves locking the cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel until a new pope is chosen.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. These men come from every corner of the globe, carrying the hopes, concerns, and prayers of the universal Church. Once the doors of the Sistine Chapel close, no one enters, no one leaves. The world is officially sealed out.
Before voting begins, the cardinals swear an oath of secrecy, promising not to disclose any details of the proceedings under penalty of excommunication. This vow ensures that the election remains free of outside influence and grounded in spiritual discernment.
Each day in the conclave includes up to four rounds of voting—two in the morning and two in the afternoon. The process is deeply symbolic: each cardinal writes the name of his chosen candidate on a ballot, folds it, and places it on a paten (a small plate), then slides it into a chalice on the altar beneath Michelangelo’s breathtaking fresco of the Last Judgment.
Once the votes are counted, the ballots are burned in a special stove. Chemicals are added to produce either black or white smoke from the chapel’s chimney. Black smoke means no consensus has been reached. White smoke—fumata bianca—signals that a new pope has been elected, sending waves of excitement through St. Peter’s Square and the world beyond.
This ancient ritual is a blend of pageantry, prayer, and profound responsibility. Though centuries old, the conclave remains one of the most dramatic and closely watched spiritual events on Earth.
6. Seclusion and Oath: The Sacred Start of Choosing a Pope
Before the first ballot is cast in the conclave, the cardinals enter a state of deep seclusion designed to shield them from outside influence and immerse them in prayerful discernment. This marks the true spiritual beginning of the papal election.
The cardinals are housed in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a Vatican guesthouse within the walls of the Holy See. From there, they process to the Sistine Chapel under tight security, often in silence or singing hymns, reminding themselves and the world that this moment is not political—it is sacred.
Upon entering the chapel, each cardinal takes a solemn oath of secrecy and fidelity. They swear before God and one another to keep all proceedings confidential and to vote according to their conscience, seeking only the good of the Church.
It’s at this point that many people wonder: what is the process for selecting pope candidates? Interestingly, there are no official nominations or campaigning. Instead, through conversations, prayer, and the reflections held during the General Congregations, cardinals begin to form internal convictions about who among them possesses the spiritual depth, leadership qualities, and global perspective to guide the Church.
These insights form the foundation for the first ballots. The selection process is not driven by ambition, but by discernment. It is a quiet, contemplative path forward—fueled not by politics, but by prayer.
This stage sets the tone for what follows: one of the most secretive and awe-inspiring electoral processes in the world.
5. Voting: The Heart of the Papal Election
Once the cardinals are secluded and have taken their oaths, the real work of the papal conclave begins—voting. This is where centuries of tradition, quiet discernment, and divine guidance intersect in one of the most mysterious and sacred decision-making processes in the world.
The voting takes place in the Sistine Chapel, beneath the gaze of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment. The procedure is meticulous and deeply symbolic. Each cardinal writes the name of his chosen candidate on a paper ballot, folds it, and carries it to the altar. There, he places it on a paten and slides it into a chalice, all while reciting a solemn vow: “I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected.”
After every vote, three cardinals—known as scrutineers—count and record the ballots. To elect a pope, a cardinal must receive a two-thirds majority. If no one meets that threshold, the ballots are burned, and the smoke rises—black if no pope has been chosen.
Up to four votes can be held each day—two in the morning, two in the afternoon—until a consensus is reached. How long does the pope candidate selection process take? It varies. Some conclaves last a day, while others have taken several days or even weeks. The 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, for example, took just five ballots over two days.
4. Counting the Votes
After each round of voting in the conclave, the counting of the votes takes place in a methodical and sacred manner. This is a quiet, intense process, conducted with absolute care and precision to ensure that each cardinal’s vote is properly accounted for.
The three scrutineers—cardinals chosen to oversee the counting process—play a pivotal role. They carefully tally each ballot and then read aloud the results in front of all the cardinals present. If a cardinal has received enough votes to meet the two-thirds majority required for election, the process moves to the next phase. If not, the ballots are burned, and the process starts again.
After each vote, the results are meticulously checked and rechecked, with the ballots being burned in a special stove in the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke is emitted if no pope has been elected, signaling to the world that the cardinals have not yet reached a decision. The smoke is a key part of the process, keeping the selection secret and suspenseful until the decision is final.
The voting process continues day by day, with the cardinals remaining secluded and prayerfully considering each vote. There is no rush—just the collective desire to choose the right leader for the Catholic Church. This solemnity of the counting process reflects the gravity of the decision at hand: selecting a new pope to guide over one of the largest religious institutions in the world.
3. Smoke Signals
The smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel is one of the most iconic symbols of the papal election process. Known as the smoke signals, these puffs of smoke are eagerly watched by millions around the world, signaling the progress of the conclave and the ultimate decision of the cardinals.
After each round of voting, the ballots are burned in a special stove inside the Sistine Chapel. If no pope has been elected, the smoke that emerges is black, signaling that the cardinals have not reached a two-thirds majority. The black smoke is often a moment of tension, as the world waits in anticipation for the final choice.
However, when a new pope is chosen, the process takes a different turn. The ballots are burned in a way that produces white smoke, which is the unmistakable sign that the papacy has been filled. This is known as fumata bianca, or “white smoke,” and it signals that the conclave has successfully selected a new leader of the Catholic Church.
Once the white smoke rises from the chapel, the crowds outside St. Peter’s Square erupt in jubilation. Church bells toll, and the Vatican announces the election. The moment is one of both suspense and joy, as the faithful worldwide await the formal introduction of the new pope.
The smoke signals are not only a practical method of communication but also a powerful symbol of the Church’s deep connection to tradition and spirituality. In an era of modern technology, this centuries-old ritual remains one of the most captivating aspects of the papal election process.
2. Acceptance and Papal Name: A New Era Begins
Once the cardinals have chosen a new pope, a pivotal moment follows: the acceptance. After receiving the required two-thirds majority vote, the chosen cardinal is asked if he accepts the election. This question is simple, yet profound—his acceptance is the beginning of a new era for the Catholic Church.
If the chosen cardinal agrees, the papal election is complete. The response, “I accept”, is met with quiet reverence, marking the official start of his papacy. But the transition doesn’t end there. The newly elected pope must also choose a papal name, a tradition that dates back to the 6th century.
The selection of a papal name is deeply symbolic, as it reflects both the new pope’s spiritual mission and his connection to Church history. Some popes choose a name in honor of a previous pontiff, while others select names that reflect their personal devotion or vision for the future of the Church. For example, when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope in 2013, he chose the name Pope Francis—a nod to St. Francis of Assisi, known for his humility and dedication to poverty and peace.
What happens after a pope candidate is chosen by cardinals? Once the new pope accepts the election and chooses a name, the entire conclave is informed, and preparations begin for the moment the world has been waiting for: the announcement of the new pope to the crowds gathered outside St. Peter’s Square.
This moment, full of anticipation and excitement, marks the conclusion of the conclave and the beginning of a new papacy, as the new pope prepares to step onto the balcony and address the faithful for the first time.
1. Papal Inauguration: A New Pope Takes the Throne
After the excitement of the Habemus Papam announcement and the new pope’s first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the papal election process culminates in a grand and historic moment—the Papal Inauguration.
The Papal Inauguration Mass is a significant event in the life of the Church, marking the official start of the new pope’s papacy. It typically takes place a few days after the conclave, allowing for the necessary preparations and the gathering of Catholic leaders and dignitaries from around the world. The Mass is held in St. Peter’s Square, where the new pope is formally invested with the symbols of his office, including the Pallium (a woolen vestment symbolizing the authority of the pope) and the Ring of the Fisherman (a traditional symbol of the pope’s role as the successor of St. Peter).
The pope’s first blessing of the faithful, known as the Urbi et Orbi blessing, is also an important moment. The new pontiff addresses the crowd with words of peace, unity, and hope for the future of the Church, symbolizing the global responsibility and mission that come with the papacy.
At this moment, the transition is complete—the Church moves from the uncertainty of the papal election to the stability and leadership of a new pope, ready to guide the Catholic Church through its next chapter.
This series of sacred and ceremonial steps, from the moment the Holy See becomes vacant to the new pope’s inauguration, highlights the 10 steps in the papal election process, from cardinal to pope. Each step is imbued with tradition, prayer, and profound significance, ensuring that the election of a new pope is not just an administrative event, but a deeply spiritual and historical milestone in the life of the Catholic Church.
