How Was the New Pope Chosen?
By Isabella Perco ‘26, Staff Writer; Edited by Kat Willson ‘26, Editor-in-Chief
After the previous Pope passes away, the Camerlengo (a senior cardinal) officially verifies the Pope’s death. The papal apartment is sealed, and preparations for the funeral and conclave begin. There are nine days of mourning, and the Pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day. Now, there is Sede Vacante (vacant seat). This is the period when the papacy is vacant. The College of Cardinals governs the Church during this time, but cannot make any major decisions.
The conclave then begins. The conclave is the secret gathering of cardinals under age 80 in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope.
Only cardinal electors (usually up to 120) can vote. No communication with the outside world is allowed. Phones, internet, and media are banned. The cardinals stay in the Domus Sanctae Marthae (Saint Martha’s House) nearby but walk to the Sistine Chapel to vote. Before voting starts, each cardinal swears to uphold secrecy and act in the Church's best interest. The voting process itself usually includes two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon each day. Ballots are handwritten with the name of the chosen cardinal. Each vote is folded and placed into a chalice or urn on the altar. Three cardinals (called scrutineers) count the votes. If no cardinal receives a two-thirds majority, the ballots are burned with a chemical to produce black smoke (fumata nera). If someone gets two-thirds, the ballots are burned with a different chemical to produce white smoke (fumata bianca), signalling a new Pope has been elected.
The chosen cardinal is then asked: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?” If he accepts, he chooses a papal name. He is then dressed in white papal robes and led to the “Room of Tears” to prepare. The Cardinal Protodeacon steps out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and declares: "Habemus Papam!" ("We have a Pope!") The new Pope then appears and gives his first public Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing.
Who is the New Pope?
After the passing of the previous Pope, Pope Francis, the voting process began. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected to run the Catholic Church on May 8th, 2025, choosing the papal name: Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. Pope Leo has a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, loves to play tennis, and speaks and reads English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese. He can also read Latin and German (He was also an editor-in-chief for his school yearbook!).
