As the Papal Conclave 2025 is officially underway, the Vatican returns to the spotlight again. More than 120 cardinal electors from around the globe — the men charged with choosing the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church — have entered the Sistine Chapel to begin the sacred task of selecting a successor to Pope Francis following his death and burial Friday. The conclave, an ancient ritual, is cloaked in its centuries of secrecy, its deep spirituality, and rich symbolism as the Church prepares to anoint its new pope in a time of crisis for Catholicism.
A Ritual Steeped in Tradition
Just one day after Pope Francis was laid to rest in the grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, that conclave got underway on May 7, 2025. He was pope for more than a decade and will be remembered for his efforts to reform the Church while struggling to keep up with humbling developments on topics far beyond his remit.
Locked up inside Vatican City and sworn to secrecy, the cardinals now take their turns in voting ranks until a two-thirds majority emerges. Prayer, reflection, and discussion fill their days, which they undertake within the solemn beauty of the Sistine Chapel.
Black Smoke and White Smoke: A Global Signal
Now, the whole world is watching the world’s most powerful and important religious leader for one simple visual cue—smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney. However, after every round of voting, the ballots of the cities are burned in a special furnace. In the absence of a pope, chemicals are then added, resulting in black smoke, which informs the public that the process goes on. White smoke rises when a new pope is chosen and accepts the role, as the world is told that he has been elected.
Dating back to the 15th century, this dramatic ritual turns a private decision into a globally viewed event. Soon after, we see white smoke and the now-famous declaration of ‘Habemus Papam’, followed by the new pope’s first blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
A Global Church and Diverse Contenders
Three of the potential frontrunners are from Europe, and there are cardinals from Africa, Asia and the Americas, thus highlighting the truly global nature of the Church today. Italy’s Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is considered to be a voice of peace and reconciliation. For his efforts in the area of social justice and climate change, Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson is praised. Luis Antonio Tagle, cardinal of the Philippines, has won international admiration for his pastoral style and his relationship with young Catholics.
Cardinal Jean Marc Aveline, a French who also supports interfaith dialogue and the welcoming of people of all faiths, is another name rising in prominence. Each potential candidate has a different vision for where the Church will go in the future, and the cardinals have to decide what combination of theological leadership, global challenges and pastoral priorities are most needed.
What’s at Stake for the Catholic Church
This conclave will not take place in a vacuum. Declining attendance in parts of the Western world, but exploding in Africa and Southeast Asia, is what the next pope will inherit. The trust collapsed under the weight of pay scandals and cover-ups, and the ongoing debates about leaders’ treatment of women, LGBTQ inclusion, and celibacy.
The new Pope has also taken over during global political tension, and for him it is a challenge to steer through times when religion and nationalism converged, as well as when they clash with migration and human rights. How the College of Cardinals decides in the Sistine Chapel won’t just change the shape of the inside of the Church, but also how the Church speaks to the world.
