Papal Conclave To Be Held Following Death Of Pope Francis

(Vatican City) -- Following today's death of Pope Francis, what's known as a conclave will be scheduled to select the next leader of the Catholic Church. As they did when Francis was elected in 2013, eligible cardinals from the College of Cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel to vote for a new pope. They'll have no ability to leave or communicate with the outside world until a decision is made. If black smoke rises from the chapel's chimney after a vote count that means there's no decision, white smoke indicates a new pope has been selected. The conclave will likely happen within the next few weeks.

The Vatican is set to begin a period of mourning this evening for Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday (April 21). This marks the start of the "Papal Interregnum," a traditional period between the death of a pope and the election of a new one. The process of selecting a new pontiff is steeped in tradition, with cardinals from around the world gathering for a conclave to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church.

The mourning period, known as the Novendiales, lasts nine days, during which the pope's body will be displayed at St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing. A mass will be held each day, and the pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after his death.

Without concrete information, it remains unclear when Pope Francis will be buried. Typically, the Vatican follows a traditional protocol for papal funerals, which includes a period of mourning and a public funeral service at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. However, any specific details about Pope Francis's funeral arrangements have yet to be disclosed.

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