The conclave (cardinals' private voting) to elect the next Catholic pope began at the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on the 7th (local time). A total of 133 cardinals under the age of 80 gathered from 70 countries to participate in the conclave. This conclave is taking place on the 17th day since the passing of Pope Francis.
The cardinals held a special mass in St. Peter's Basilica that morning. They then moved to the Sistine Chapel and each took an oath to keep the secrecy. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the head of the Vatican liturgical ceremonies, ordered around 5:43 p.m., "Everybody out (Extra omnes)." Archbishop Ravelli locked the chapel doors, leaving only himself, the voting cardinals, and one cardinal to officiate the meditation inside.
Foreign media report that there is a possibility that the next pope will be elected around the 8th or 9th. The last ten conclaves took an average of about three days to elect a pope, and none have ever gone beyond five days. In 2013, Pope Francis was elected on the second day.
The voting results are signaled by the smoke from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke indicates that no one received more than two-thirds of the vote, meaning a pope was not elected. White smoke signifies that the next pope has been elected.
The Director General asks the next pope whether they accept the position and what name they will take. The head cardinal then proclaims from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, "We have a pope (Habemus Papam)." The next pope will then appear before the public for the first time and offer an apostolic blessing.
The Vatican is making every effort to maintain security. It has placed opaque film on the chapel windows to prevent drones from spying on the voting. Prior searches to check for eavesdropping and recording devices were conducted in the chapel, and the cardinals left their personal mobile phones outside when entering the conclave. Phone calls, internet access, and reading newspapers are also prohibited.
Earlier, the cardinals moved into their accommodations at the Vatican the day before. They took a bus to the Sistine Chapel to participate in the conclave. Over the past two weeks, the cardinals have held nearly daily meetings to discuss the challenges facing the Catholic Church and the qualities needed in the next pope. The cardinals shared their values in three-minute speeches, which are said to have a decisive impact on the voting.