By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Apr 30, 2025 / 00:15 am
The College of Cardinals announced Monday, April 28, that the conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor will begin on May 7, as the Church enters the final preparatory phase for choosing its 267th pope.
Follow here for live updates of the latest news and information on the papal transition:
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne expects the upcoming papal conclave to last longer than the relatively brief gathering that elected Pope Francis in 2013, the German prelate revealed Tuesday in Rome.
"I hope for a short conclave, but I believe everything is possible," Woelki told EWTN Program Director Martin Rothweiler and CNA Deutsch Rome correspondent Rudolf Gehrig. "I expect it won't go as quickly as the last conclave. But maybe I'll be proven wrong. I would be happy about that."
The 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis lasted just two days, making it one of the shortest in modern history.
Read the full story here.
As the College of Cardinals prepares for the upcoming conclave, its members are diligently preparing and praying for the election of the next pope.
Matthew Bunson, vice president of EWTN News, and Edward Pentin, the National Catholic Register’s senior contributor, join “EWTN News Nightly” from Rome to discuss how many cardinals will participate in the upcoming conclave, whether all of them can vote for the next pontiff, and more:
The way to evangelization is “unreserved openness” to others, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, OFM Conv, said on the fourth day of the Novendiales, the Church’s nine days of mourning for Pope Francis.
Gambetti, who is archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated the Mass for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul in the presence of the cardinals and the chapters of the four papal basilicas, which are groups of clergy entrusted with ensuring the liturgical and sacramental care of the basilicas.
Read the full text of the homily here.
On the Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti presided over the fourth Novemdiales Mass for Pope Francis' repose at St. Peter's Basilica, reminding the faithful that they should see God in everyone as the late Pope did. pic.twitter.com/OtsgAhrw7p
The Pontifical Mission Societies USA is launching a prayer campaign to pray for the cardinals involved in the upcoming conclave as they prepare to elect the next pope.
Monsignor Roger Landry, the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies USA, encouraged Catholics to pray for the cardinals in a video message from St. Peter’s Square on Monday.
Find out how you can “adopt” a cardinal to pray for here.
The 2025 Conclave: All the cardinal electors from A to Z. Let's pray for them. pic.twitter.com/evOGuKSmGA
The College of Cardinals held their sixth general congregation on Tuesday morning, confirming two cardinal electors will not participate in the upcoming May 7 conclave due to health reasons.
Read more here.
Cardinal Chibly Langlois, bishop of Les Cayes, will be the first Haitian prelate in the Church’s history to participate and vote in a papal conclave.
Following the death of Pope Francis, Langlois released a statement honoring the life and ministry of the Argentine pontiff who “showed special attention to Haiti” through his words and actions.
Read more here.
Cardinal Charles Bo of Myanmar tells CNA that intends to deliver the following remarks during the general congregations ahead of the May 7 conclave to elect a new pope:
“We stand at a crossroads of history.
“Across the broken plains of Gaza, the devastated cities of Ukraine, the silent cries of Myanmar, and the scorched fields of Africa, the world groans for peace. This is not a time for hesitation — a true tribute to the late Pope Francis is to pursue peace without pause.
“We remember with trembling reverence how Pope Francis, frail yet fierce, knelt before the leaders of South Sudan, pleading for peace with the urgency of a father for his wounded children. That moment became a sermon stronger than any words, a proclamation that true leadership flows from humility, not domination. His voice was not a political calculation — it was a cry from the heart of Christ.
“Yet the storms rage fiercer still. Today, six major wars and more than 20 smaller conflicts continue to kill thousands and displace millions. It is a valley of tears across many nations. No one can escape the machinery of hatred.
“At this very hour, over 13,000 nuclear weapons remain armed and ready enough to destroy human civilization several times over. A single moment of madness, a single spark of hatred could unleash a nuclear holocaust, turning cities to ash, rivers to poison, and the sky to darkness.
“Meanwhile, global warming devastates our common home. Crops wither, rivers dry up, glaciers melt, and the earth itself groans in anguish. Scientists warn that tomorrow’s wars may not be fought over oil but over water — the very blood of life itself.
“We need a voice! A voice that evangelizes the hardened hearts of those who threaten the very survival of humanity and nature. A voice that calls humanity back from the edge of destruction!
“Indeed, the next pope will nurture the Catholic faith and lead the Church into a deeper encounter with Jesus and his Trinitarian mission of love on earth. But the Incarnation cries out today: We must renew and strengthen the instruments of peace — the United Nations, international courts, and humanitarian accords. Yet these structures are lifeless without the breath of moral authority.
“Religions must unite in a common cause to save humanity. The world urgently needs a new breath of hope — a synodal journey that chooses life over death, hope over despair.
“The next pope must be that breath!”
Pope Francis, who died April 21 at age 88, was laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major following his funeral on April 26.
As the world continues to mourn the late pope during the nine-day period known as “Novendiales” (also rendered “Novemdiales”), preparations are underway for the highly-regulated conclave process, which is the means by which a new pope is elected for the Church.
Here’s what you need to know about what will happen next.
Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu announces on Tuesday that he will not participate in the upcoming conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor, despite having previously insisted on his right to vote.
In a statement published by several media, the former deputy Secretary of State cited his desire for the good of the Church and the serenity of the conclave as his reasons for withdrawing.
“Having at heart the good of the Church, which I have served and will continue to serve with fidelity and love, and to contribute to the communion and serenity of the Conclave, I have decided, as I have always done, to adhere to the will of Pope Francis not to enter the Conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence,” Cardinal Becciu wrote in Italian.
The 76-year-old cardinal was convicted in a Vatican financial trial in 2023 but has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. Last week, he had publicly stated his intention to exercise his right as a cardinal under the age of 80 to vote in the conclave.
Vatican City is issuing special “Sede Vacante MMXXV” commemorative stamps, now available at the Vatican Post Office in St. Peter’s Square. The stamps, featuring the traditional crossed keys beneath an ornamental umbrella (known as the ombrellino), symbolize the current period of transition following Pope Francis’ death on April 21.
The Vatican postal service typically issues these stamps — which bear the Latin inscription “Sede Vacante” (“Empty Chair”) — during an interregnum, continuing a tradition that allows pilgrims and philatelists alike to own a tangible memento of this historic transition in Church leadership.
The stamps are valid for postage until the election of a new pontiff concludes the sede vacante period, though they remain available for collectors afterward.
Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu has renounced his participation in the upcoming conclave.
The former deputy secretary of state has decided to withdraw his name as a cardinal elector despite having insisted last week that he should have a vote.
Read the full blog post at the National Catholic Register.
In case anyone needs this OBVIOUS information, the Vatican Museum's Sistine Chapel will be closed to the public due to the conclave. Best reason ever to close the most visited room of the world’s most visited museum. pic.twitter.com/r1rm8mKe58
Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general for the Diocese of Rome, delivers the homily during the third day of Novendiales Masses for Pope Francis on Monday.
Read the full text of the homily here.
Cardinal Baldassare Reina urges the faithful to “discern and order” the late pontiff’s reform initiatives while acknowledging the sense of loss felt by Rome’s Catholics in his homily on the third day of “Novendiales” Masses for Pope Francis.
Speaking at St. Peter’s Basilica on Monday, April 28, the 54-year-old vicar general for the Diocese of Rome describes how the faithful feel like “sheep without a shepherd” following the pontiff’s death.
In addition to the more than 140 international delegations who participated in the solemn celebration of Pope Francis’ funeral Mass, a group of homeless people and several immigrant families also sat in the front rows. In total, there were 40 people seated there who had experienced Pope Francis’ tenderness firsthand during his 12-year pontificate.
Among them was the 31-year-old Kurdish woman, along with her four children and husband, who had to flee Iraq in the face of the Islamic State’s furious violence and the lack of basic services and opportunities for the future.
Read her story here.
Cardinals over the age of 80 cannot participate in a conclave. Out of the 134 cardinals under 80 taking part in the upcoming 2025 conclave, 15 are 79 years old — some making it under the cutoff just weeks before their 80th birthday.
One of them, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares of Spain, opted out due to health reasons, leaving 134 electors from the original 135 eligible cardinals.
The age limit for electors was introduced by Pope Paul VI in the 1970s and was confirmed by Pope John Paul II’s 1996 apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.
Here’s a look at the oldest members of the 2025 conclave.
The recent death of Pope Francis on April 21 has reignited interest in the centuries-old “Prophecy of the Popes,” also known as the St. Malachy prophecy, which some say indicates that Pope Francis was the last pope the Church will ever have.
The over-900-year-old prophecy, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, purports to describe every single pope from the year 1143 until the end of time — and Pope Francis appears, at least at a glance, to be the last pope described in the prophecy, suggesting the world will end now that his papacy has concluded.
A closer look shows that there is some significant evidence against the authenticity of this alleged prophecy. Here’s what you need to know.
Imagine that your cellphone rings and the display says the call is from a “private number.” You expect it to be a telemarketer, but instead when you answer, you hear a man with an Argentine accent say: “This is Francis. I received your letter.”
That phone call happened to Daniel Ibañez, CNA and EWTN News Vatican photographer, on an ordinary weekday morning in December 2018.
Read more about his unique encounter with Pope Francis.
More than 180 cardinals gather Monday for their fifth general congregation, focusing on major challenges facing the Church including evangelization, interfaith relations, and the abuse crisis. As these substantive discussions unfold, Vatican staff begin physically preparing the Sistine Chapel for the May 7 conclave where the next pope will be elected.
Read the full story here.
At the upcoming papal conclave, set to begin May 7, the College of Cardinals will include several notably young members who have traveled to Rome from across the world, from Mongolia to Australia.
Among the 135 cardinals who are eligible to vote in a conclave, 15 of them are under the age of 60.
Here are the five youngest cardinals who will help select the next pope.
Among the tens of thousands of mourners paying their respects before the coffin of Pope Francis last week was Gianluigi Buffon, the Italian World Cup-winning goalkeeper.
Pope Francis was a lifelong soccer fan and his passing was felt perhaps most acutely among fans of the San Lorenzo club in Buenos Aires, a team he followed since childhood. During their match on Saturday, the club paid tribute to their most famous fan. San Lorenzo players wore a patch on their shirts with an image of Pope Francis smiling and wearing his papal robes, accompanied by the phrase “Together for Eternity.”
Read more here.
The College of Cardinals has announced that the conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor will begin on Wednesday, May 7, marking the final phase in the process of selecting the 267th pope.
Read the full story here.
Cardinals are meeting in a general congregation to determine when the conclave to elect a new pope will begin. The pivotal gathering began this morning at the Vatican as the College of Cardinals continues its preparations for electing the next successor to St. Peter.
Sources inside the Vatican confirm that today’s April 28 meeting is specifically focused on setting the official start date for the conclave, where cardinal electors under 80 years of age will cast their votes.
The cardinals have been holding regular general congregation meetings in recent days to discuss the current state and future direction of the Church and global affairs. Today’s decision represents a significant step forward in the process.
Vatican watchers expect an announcement on the conclave date to be made following the conclusion of today’s meeting. We will update this live blog as more information becomes available.
The final journey of Pope Francis through the streets of Rome on Saturday became a tapestry of meaningful moments, from departing through the door near his humble Vatican residence to traveling in the Dodge Ram popemobile that once carried him among the faithful in Mexico. Each element of the 6-kilometer (about 3.5-mile) cortege reflected aspects of his papacy and personal devotions.
Read the full story here.
In a video message recorded in January but only published on Sunday, six days after his death, Pope Francis encourages young people to work on listening well to others.
In the Jan. 8 video, shared by the Italian weekly magazine Oggi, the pope addresses teens and young adults, telling them: “One of the most important things in life is to listen — to learn how to listen.”“People don’t listen. Halfway through an explanation, they’ll answer, and that doesn’t help peace. Listen — listen a lot,” he urges.
Read the full story here.
A Lithuanian cardinal says that Pope Francis chose his final resting place at the Basilica of St. Mary Major following what the late pontiff described as guidance from the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Speaking to journalists after Saturday’s burial, Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, coadjutor archpriest of the basilica, shares that he had initially asked Francis on May 13, 2022 — the feast of Our Lady of Fátima — if he would consider being buried at St. Mary Major.
The pope declined, saying popes should traditionally be buried at St. Peter’s Basilica, reported ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.
However, just one week later, Francis summoned Makrickas and told him: “The Virgin told me ‘prepare your tomb,’” adding: “I am happy that the Virgin has not forgotten about me.”
Mourners lined the streets of Rome yesterday as the pope’s wishes were fulfilled with his burial at the Marian basilica, where pilgrims are now beginning to visit his simple tomb marked “FRANCISCVS.”
St. Peter’s Square is filled with thousands of teenagers and other pilgrims from around the world today as Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrates Mass on the second day of mourning for Pope Francis, which also falls on Divine Mercy Sunday.
”The shepherd whom the Lord gave to his people, Pope Francis, has ended his earthly life and has left us,” Parolin says in his homily.
Read the full story here.
