Vatican City: Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88, marking the beginning of the centuries-old process of electing a new pope. The Vatican announced his death at 7:35 am, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell confirming that the pope "returned to the home of the Father." Following his passing, the College of Cardinals, made up of 115 cardinals under the age of 80, will convene in Rome to begin the conclave, a process steeped in tradition and secrecy.

Once the papal vacancy occurs, the cardinals gather for general congregations to discuss the Church’s global challenges and prepare for the upcoming election. These meetings include logistical arrangements for the papal funeral and burial. However, any decisions requiring papal authority, such as appointing bishops, must wait until a new pope is elected.

The conclave itself begins with the cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel to take an oath of secrecy, after which they begin the voting process. Each cardinal casts a secret ballot, which is placed in a chalice after a brief prayer. A candidate needs two-thirds of the votes to be elected, with up to four rounds of balloting occurring daily. If no candidate achieves the required majority, the ballots are burned with chemicals to produce black smoke, signalling no decision has been made.

When a candidate does receive the necessary votes, the senior cardinal dean asks if they accept the election. Upon acceptance, the new pope selects a papal name, dresses in papal vestments, and processes to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the senior cardinal deacon announces, "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope"). The election is confirmed as white smoke rises from the chapel’s chimney, signalling the Church has a new leader.

This process, which combines centuries of tradition with modern-day secrecy, ensures the election of a new pope, continuing the legacy of the Catholic Church's leadership. The Vatican and the faithful around the world will await the moment when the new pope is revealed, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Church’s history.