People watch a screen in St .Peter's Square showing cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel, on the first day of the conclave to elect the next pope, at the Vatican, May 7, 2025.

The rules of the conclave, as of 22 January 2025, state that of the 252 cardinals, 138 qualify as electors. Only those under the age of 80 may take part in the secret ballot in the Sistine Chapel.

Cardinal Arborelius said that, although he would appreciate a papal visit from Pope Leo XIV, he hopes that the new pope will be able to visit Catholics in the neighboring countries of Scandinavia.

“The conclave, on the other hand, was very easy,” Riccardi said, underlying how quickly the geographically diverse College Cardinals agreed to elect Prevost in just four ballots over two days.

Members of the College of Cardinals, appointed by a pope, are the only people that can choose the new head of the nearly 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV was elected May 8, making Aug. 16 the 100th day since he stepped out onto the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica ...

There was not a 'dry eye in the house' at the Sistine Chapel the moment when former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the next pope, with the 115 cardinals meeting for the conclave ...

Cardinals during the fifth congregation meeting in the Vatican, on April 28, 2025. [AFP] Pope Francis is being mourned the world over by believers and non-believers of the Catholic faith alike.

Of the 252 cardinals, who form the top echelon of the Catholic Church, only those aged under 80 vote for a new pope in the conclave. So 117 of them will not be present in the Sistine Chapel.

Formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, the Chicago native was selected by the papal conclave on May 8 after two days, elected by the College of Cardinals to succeed Pope Francis, who died on ...