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The Papal Conclave has officially kicked off inside the Vatican, marking the start of one of the world’s most secretive and historic democratic events. Right now, 133 cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel, where they will choose the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church—the new pope.
These cardinals aren’t just staying inside the chapel during the voting—they’re also staying at the Vatican’s St Martha’s House, a five-story guesthouse nearby. To make sure everything stays completely private and under wraps, the Vatican has gone all out with security measures. Both the chapel and the guesthouse have been carefully checked for any hidden electronic devices, and special jammers have been installed to block phone signals and stop any unauthorized communication.
Even the windows have been treated with special coatings to prevent laser scanners from eavesdropping. And in the guesthouse, the windows are blacked out so nobody outside can see or hear anything. To prevent secret messages from being passed through food (yes, that’s a real concern!), the menu is carefully controlled—no pies or chicken allowed!
Here are 5 key things you should know about this fascinating process:
1. How long will the papal conclave last?
The conclave doesn’t have a set deadline—it will continue until a new pope is chosen. While the last two conclaves wrapped up in just two days, history shows this process can take a lot longer. Back in 1268, the conclave dragged on for nearly three years! So the cardinals will keep voting, again and again, until someone gets at least two-thirds plus one of the votes.
Fun fact: The shortest conclave ever happened in 1503 and lasted only 10 hours! That’s when Pope Pius III was elected.
2. Who can become the next pope?
Technically, any baptized Catholic man can be chosen as pope, but realistically, the new pope will almost certainly be one of the cardinals locked inside the conclave.
3. Who are the frontrunners?
Some of the main contenders to succeed Pope Francis are Pietro Parolin, Luis Antonio Tagle, and Peter Turkson. These guys are well-known within the Church and have significant support among the cardinals.
4. How will we know when the new pope is chosen?
The classic signal is smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. White smoke means a new pope has been elected and the cardinals have reached the required majority. Black smoke means no decision has been made yet, and the voting will continue.
5. What rules must the cardinals follow?
All cardinals and staff members—like cooks, cleaners, and doctors—must swear a strict oath of secrecy. They are cut off from the outside world: no phones, no internet, no newspapers, no radio or TV. If anyone leaks any details about the conclave, they face automatic excommunication—meaning they’re kicked out of the Church forever.