The funeral procedures for Pope Francis concluded on the 26th (local time), drawing attention to the conclave (secret meeting of cardinals) that will elect the next pope.
According to The New York Times (NYT), the conclave is expected to begin as early as next month on the 6th. Due to the regulation that the conclave must commence within 15 to 20 days after the pope's passing, most foreign media anticipate that the conclave will start sometime between the 6th and 11th of next month.
The conclave is a historic papal election method that has been in use since the 13th century, where cardinals under the age of 80 gather without selecting candidates beforehand to write down the names of individuals they deem suitable, holding votes twice a day until a candidate receives more than two-thirds of the votes.
The conclave has been held at the Sistine Chapel since the late 19th century, and the cardinals are isolated from the outside world during the conclave. Once the pope is elected, white smoke is released from the chapel chimney to announce the news to the world.
Preparations for the conclave have already begun. The College of Cardinals held its first general meeting on the 22nd, the day after Pope Francis's passing, to discuss the schedule, practical plans, issues, priorities, and notable figures leading up to the conclave.
The meetings of the College of Cardinals will officially start around the 28th, when most of the 135 cardinals under the age of 80 gather in Rome, occurring twice a day. NYT noted, "In the next week, factions may become clearer, and strong candidates may emerge or fade away."