Pope: Vatican Confirms May 7 For Conclave
Following the burial of Pope Francis on Saturday, the Vatican today confirmed that the Conclave will hold on May 7.
The Conclave is the secret balloting for a new Pope, and the
outcome will determine the successor to Pope Francis who died on Easter Sunday, aged 88 years.
The Conclave comprises the Cardinals of the church and balloting for a new Pope goes on for as long as none of the legible cardinals had majority of the valid votes cast.
Each of the unsuccessful balloting rounds was typified by the billow of black smoke from the outlying chimney of the Sistine Chapel, in which the Cardinals, hooded in red Cassock, vote.
But once a Cardinal has been elected Pope, the chemicals burnt in the stove to give out black smoke are altered to give a white smoke, followed promptly by his inauguration.
During the institution into office, the new Pope is given the Fisherman ‘s Ring, which becomes his official signet.
