Papal Conclave Set for May 7 as Cardinals Gather

The papal conclave to elect Pope Francis's successor will begin on May 7 in the Sistine Chapel, with 133 cardinal electors required to reach a two-thirds majority, or at least 89 votes, to select the next pope. The process is expected to take three days or less, mirroring the historical average and suggesting a unified College of Cardinals, although any delay could point to underlying divisions. Historically, the conclave's secrecy and seclusion stem from 13th-century reforms after the longest conclave in Catholic history, which lasted nearly three years and led to the election of Pope Gregory X. Following that episode, rules were established to limit cardinals' meals and impose waiting periods before voting, measures intended to expedite the process and reduce external influence, though some restrictions have since been lifted. The upcoming conclave will test whether the cardinals choose a leader who continues Pope Francis's path of openness and renewal or opt for a more cautious direction. Early speculation names Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as frontrunners, but the outcome remains uncertain as diverse perspectives are weighed.