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How the next Pope will be chosen: Inside the Vatican’s conclave process
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Apr 21, 2025
With the passing of Pope Francis, the College of Cardinals is preparing for one of the Catholic Church’s most sacred and solemn traditions: the conclave to elect a new pope. From the destruction of the papal ring to the white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel, each step is rooted in centuries-old ritual. In this report, Fox 5’s Teresa Priolo breaks down what happens when a pope dies, how a new pontiff is chosen, and what the Church might look for in its next leader—moderate, conservative, or something new entirely.
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0:00
Well, with the passing of Pope Francis, thoughts are turning to the process now that's soon going to begin for electing a new pontiff
0:06
It's been more than a dozen years since the College of Cardinals gathered for that solemn duty
0:11
Fox Ice, Teresa Prielo is live in the newsroom with more on the process going forward. Teresa
0:15
Yeah, Bianca and Natasha, it's somber to think about, but the moment the Pope dies, the search for a new one really begins
0:20
Quietly at first, then the conclave descends on the Sistine Chapel. The question everybody is asking, will the future of the Catholic Church be liberal like Francis
0:29
or much more conservative to keep up with the views of Catholics in places where the church is booming
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Only twice in the 21st century has there been a vacancy of the Holy See
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Now again, this most solemn duty falls to the College of Cardinals, the most senior members of the clergy
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138 cardinals are under 80 and eligible to elect the next pope
0:53
But before the white smoke rises, the bells toll and a new Holy Father emerges
0:57
there's much work to be done, including a carefully choreographed series of events steeped in centuries of tradition
1:04
The first thing that happens is what they call a camelango, or the chamber of the Holy Roman Catholic Church
1:10
Traditionally historically this is a fasting piece would take a silver hammer and tap the Pope forehead three times and then call it his baptismal name
1:22
And if there are no response in any of the three knockings or the name, we declare the Pope officially dead
1:29
Nowadays, there are more modern methods of declaring the Pope deceased, but the sentiment remains
1:33
And once it does, the Carmelengo takes the papal signet ring, the ring of the fisherman, and destroys it, signaling the end of Pope Francis's reign
1:43
His papal apartment is sealed, the College of Cardinals are notified, and a nine-day mourning period begins
1:50
Back in April of 24, Pope Francis established new rights for the borough of the Pope
1:57
Now, could his successor change this? Of course. But for Pope Francis, he was very clear that he did not want a pope that was associated with a noble statesman or a world leader or global power
2:11
He wanted to remember as a simple shepherd, as a kind pastor
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And so you want to be buried in that respect. What's quite striking, it's a very simplified funeral rite that he's left us with
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The funeral will be unlike the others we've seen in modern times
2:26
Think disciple of Christ not head of state Pope Francis will be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore not St Peter Basilica And that process will happen between the fourth and six days after his death Once the
2:39
burial is done, the conclave begins, which is roughly 15 to 20 days after the Pope's death
2:45
is announced. That's a very serious gathering. It's very restricted. The cardinals themselves
2:51
are in one place. They're not to leave during that time. They don't come and go. They're
2:57
And it's now where Pope Francis lives in Santa Marta. And they stay there
3:05
They go over to the Sistine Chapel each day for their deliberations and their vote
3:13
The cardinals vote in secrecy four times a day. When they vote, they're locked inside the Sistine Chapel
3:19
They're cut off from the outside world as a way to reconnect with the Holy Spirit
3:23
If a two-thirds majority is not reached, the smoke that emerges is black
3:28
Once a decision has been made, the smoke is white and the bells toll
3:34
It's not an election as much as it's a discernment. And that's why this is different
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This isn't an election in the ways of this world. The selection of a pope is meant to come out of an experience of prayer and solidarity The longest conclave in history lasted 1 days Theoretically any baptized Roman Catholic man is eligible for the papacy
3:56
But for the last 700 years, the Pope has been chosen from the College of Cardinals
4:00
So who will it be? What people should be cautious about is looking at the Vatican
4:04
and looking at the global Catholic Church through the lens of American politics and American ideas of conservatism and liberalism
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The church is, you know, it operates on all continents of the world
4:17
There are 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. Some might sort of hew to what are considered traditional Catholic values and ideals and tradition and doctrine, and others don't
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And this is sort of what makes predicting a new pope sort of so difficult
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What matters most to the cardinals is the continuation of the church, And yet much of that depends on how the next pope addresses global, social and economic issues
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Those that pull people in and turn people away. The bottom line is anything can happen and the Holy Spirit works on a timetable and an agenda all its own
4:53
So checking the calendar, it appears as though the conclave will begin on or around May the 6th and the latest start date being May the 12th. Natasha
5:04
All right, Teresa, thank you so much
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