With the death of Pope Francis at age 88 on Monday morning, the Catholic Church now enters a period of mourning before cardinals from around the world gather at the Vatican for a conclave to elect his successor. The upcoming election will determine who will lead the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics and whether Francis’s progressive legacy will continue or face reversal.
The conclave, a gathering of cardinals who elect a new pope in strict seclusion at the Vatican, will follow established traditions that have evolved over centuries. The process will begin after funeral ceremonies for Francis, whose body will soon be placed on display in St. Peter’s Basilica for the faithful to pay their respects, according to NBC News.
Francis’s Reshaping of the College of Cardinals
During his 12-year papacy, Francis significantly transformed the College of Cardinals that will now choose his successor. He appointed approximately 80% of the current cardinal electors, dramatically internationalizing the body by elevating prelates from remote regions often overlooked by his predecessors.
This reshaping could prove crucial in determining whether the next pope continues Francis’s vision of a more inclusive, missionary-focused church or returns to more traditional approaches. The cardinals Francis appointed generally share his pastoral priorities and concern for the marginalized, though this doesn’t guarantee they will choose someone cut from the same cloth.
“His appointments to the College of Cardinals reflected his vision of a global church, with many new cardinals coming from Africa, Asia, and Latin America rather than the traditional European strongholds,” notes Vatican analyst Sofia Ramirez. “This diversity will certainly influence the upcoming conclave in ways we haven’t seen before.”
The Conclave Process
Once the official mourning period concludes, cardinals under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave. There, completely cut off from the outside world, they will cast secret ballots until someone receives a two-thirds majority. The famous white smoke from the chapel’s chimney will signal to the world that a new pope has been chosen.
The length of conclaves varies dramatically—some last only hours, while others can extend for weeks. The 2013 conclave that elected Francis took just two days, relatively quick by historical standards. However, with a more diverse and potentially divided College of Cardinals, this election could prove more complex.
“The cardinals will be weighing not just theological positions but practical concerns like age and health, especially given Francis’s difficult final years,” explains Father Thomas Murphy, a professor of church history. “They’ll want someone vigorous enough to manage the demands of global leadership.”
Francis’s Final Days and Legacy
Francis’s death came just one day after he appeared in St. Peter’s Square to deliver his Easter blessing, creating a poignant final image of his papacy. Despite his visibly frail condition, he insisted on touring the square in his popemobile, stopping several times to greet the faithful who cheered “viva il papa,” according to Fox News.
Just hours before his death, the pope met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican. Vance later shared on social media: “My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him. I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill.”
Francis, who had part of his right lung removed as a young man due to pneumonia, had been hospitalized for 38 days earlier this year with double pneumonia, his longest hospitalization as pope. Though released on March 23, he never fully recovered.
Global Reactions and Tributes
As news of the pope’s death spread, leaders around the world offered tributes. President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff, stating: “He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world.”
In Francis’s native Argentina, President Javier Milei recalled the legacy left by the first Argentine and Latin American to lead the Catholic Church. “As President, as an Argentine, and, fundamentally, as a man of faith, I bid farewell to the Holy Father and stand with all of us who are today dealing with this sad news,” Milei said in a social media post.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised the pope’s commitment to the marginalized, writing that “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the church to bring joy and hope to the poorest,” according to NewsBreak.
As the Catholic Church prepares for this crucial transition of power, both traditionalists and progressives within its ranks will be closely watching the upcoming conclave, aware that the outcome will shape the direction of one of the world’s oldest and most influential institutions for years to come.
