Vatican: Conclave to Begin on May 7, 2025

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - The Vatican announced on Monday that the conclave to elect a new pope will begin on May 7, following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 21.

Around 135 cardinals from across the globe are expected to gather at the Sistine Chapel for the centuries-old, secretive process to choose the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

There is no official timeline for how long the conclave will last, though the previous two—in 2005 and 2013—were completed within two days.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936 to Italian immigrant parents, was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. He was ordained in 1969 and studied in both Argentina and Germany before rising to the papacy in 2013.

During his decade-long tenure, Francis was both praised and criticized for attempting to reform the Vatican’s bureaucracy, address sexual abuse scandals, and tackle corruption.

Earlier this year, he was hospitalized in Rome for bronchitis, which developed into bilateral pneumonia. After 38 days of treatment, he was released to continue recovery at his Vatican residence. He was buried on April 26.

"His passing marks the end of a historic chapter for the Church. Now, the world awaits his successor," said Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines, as quoted on Antara.

The conclave is expected to draw global attention as the Church prepares to enter a new era under its next spiritual leader.

Writer: Andi Raisa Malaha Thambas