The Vatican has announced that the conclave to elect a new pope will begin on May 7, following the funeral of Pope Francis.
The date was set after cardinals gathered for their first general congregation on Monday. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, with 135 currently qualified to participate. However, at least one eligible cardinal, Antonio Cañizares Llovera, the former Archbishop of Valencia, has said he will not attend due to health issues.
It remains unclear exactly how many cardinals will be present when the conclave opens. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni reported that more than 180 cardinals had arrived in Rome by Monday morning, including just over 100 cardinal electors.
During the gathering, the cardinals discussed the future direction of the Catholic Church and the challenges it faces. Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, and Cardinal Dominique Mamberti were elected to assist Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Dublin-born and naturalised American camerlengo responsible for managing the Church’s affairs between papacies.
Daily congregations will continue at 9 a.m. (3 a.m. ET) until the start of the conclave, with the exception of May 1 and May 4.
The election will take place under tight secrecy in the Sistine Chapel, which was closed to the public on Monday to prepare for the balloting, according to the Vatican Museum website.
Historically, the previous two conclaves — in 2005 for Pope Benedict XVI and in 2013 for Pope Francis — each lasted two days.
