Catholic Cardinals Prepare for Papal Conclave to Choose Next Pope at the Vatican

With the funeral of Pope Francis now behind them, Catholic cardinals from around the world are preparing for one of the most sacred and secretive rituals in the Church—the papal conclave. The historic process, which begins tomorrow, will determine who will become the next leader of the world's largest Christian denomination.

On the eve of the conclave, the gravity of the decision weighs heavily on the cardinals. “The problems that are in the world—for peace, for immigration, for freedom and for justice—there are so many things that need to be addressed,” one cardinal said.

In the days leading up to the conclave, the cardinals have met and prayed together, a period many consider essential to the process. It’s during this time that they discuss global issues, build relationships, and reflect on the qualities needed in the next pontiff.

“Some of them don't know each other very well, and so there's a lot of meetings,” said a Vatican source. “One of the most important times in the selection of a new pope is when the cardinals get together and get to know each other.”

Beginning Tuesday, the cardinals will be locked inside the Sistine Chapel, where voting will begin. There will be two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon each day until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority.

The process is carried out in complete silence, with no communication allowed with the outside world. The only sounds in the chapel will be the shuffling of papers and the counting of votes.

With more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, the responsibility of electing the next pope is profound. As one cardinal noted, “We will do what we can knowing that God is with us and that we're here to do"