POPE LEO XIV
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The conclave to elect the next pope will begin on May 7, 2025, the Holy See Press Office announced on April 28. The cardinals set the date during their general congregation on Monday morning.
To date, some 135 cardinal electors — under the age of 80 — are expected to attend, according to the Vatican's official list. The Holy See has not yet announced any absences for serious reasons, although the emeritus archbishop of Valencia, Spain, already confirmed he would not attend for health reasons.
The average of the cardinal electors is 70.3.
The majority of cardinal electors and non-electors are currently in Rome and are holding daily meetings to get to know each other and to draw up the profile they would like to see at the head of the Catholic Church.
Once the conclave has begun, there is a series of votes wherein cardinals cast ballots for the new pontiff. A two-thirds majority is needed for a successor to be chosen; therefore, there is often a number of ballots until this result is achieved.
