Papal Election

Guides And Explainers

The short answer is: it is possible, but not likely in the near term. The next pope will be elected by the College of Cardinals during a conclave, and any baptized, believing, a...

Catholic Church Institutions

The conclave is the formal gathering of cardinal electors that selects a new pope after a vacancy of the Holy See. Understanding conclave characters clarifies who can vote, who...

ecclesiology

A conclave result is the formal outcome of a papal election, marking the successful selection of a new bishop of Rome and supreme pontiff. The process unfolds in the Sistine Cha...

Catholicism

As of mid-2025, there is no American pope. The first pope from the United States has not yet been elected. This explainer clarifies the current status, outlines what would chang...

Celebrity Profiles

A papal conclave is the gathering of cardinals convened to elect a new pope. Governed by Universi Dominici Gregis (1996, updated 2022), the process prioritizes prayer, secrecy,...

Celebrity Profiles

A conclave is the formal gathering of cardinals convened to elect a new pope. The term originates from the Latin phrase cum clave, meaning “with a key,” referring to the car...

ecclesiology

Choosing a new pope begins when the papacy becomes vacant, typically through resignation or death, and the College of Cardinals convenes a papal conclave to elect a successor. T...

Guides And Explainers

A new pope is chosen when the College of Cardinals convenes a papal conclave to elect a successor after a vacancy in the papacy. This process is governed by centuries-old canon...

church-practice

This page explains how a new pope is chosen, what has changed in recent conclaves, and what observers can realistically expect before 2026. It focuses on enduring procedures, do...

Celebrity Profiles

A papal election is triggered by a vacancy in the office of pope, which occurs upon death, resignation, or definitive removal. In practice, most vacancies follow the death of a...