Pope Francis live: 400,000 bid farewell to pontiff after Zelensky hails Trump meeting (2025)

Meet Pietro Parolin - the cardinal who could be the next pope

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, is now considered “the main candidate”, a strong favourite to be the next Pope but “not a certainty”.

As the Vatican’s secretary of state since 2013, 70-year-old Cardinal Parolin, from Veneto, is the highest-ranking member of the electing conclave.

Rather than adhering to “left” or “right” political leanings, Cardinal Parolin has long been considered a sensible, moderate figure within the Church.

A well placed Vatican insider told The Independent: “It is hard to know if he [Parolin] really is the main candidate because the group of cardinals are very difficult to read. They are a very strange bunch and they don’t really know one another.

“What they see as a good candidate may be very different to what the media say.

“Parolin is a very safe bet because they all know him. He was nice to everyone and never had conflicts with anyone. He has been working in the Vatican for more than 10 years and knows how it works.”

Bryony Gooch27 April 2025 06:01

How cardinals will choose the next pope

While the conclave is ongoing, cardinals are completely cut off from the outside world – no telephones, internet access or newspapers are allowed.

If no result is reached after three days of voting, the sessions are suspended for a day of prayer and reflection before voting resumes.

There is no fixed deadline to elect a new pope – and history shows the process can vary dramatically. The longest conclave lasted nearly three years in the 13th century, while several others have taken just one day.

In more recent history, the conclave that elected Pope John Paul II in 1978 took less than three days, and cardinals chose Pope Francis in around two.

Stuti Mishra27 April 2025 05:30

Smoke signals: what does the smoke in the conclave mean?

After the nine days of mourning, the Cardinals will be able to begin the papal conclave to pick the replacement for Pope Francis.

These meetings often involve the Cardinals locking themselves into the Sistine Chapel to vote in secrecy.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world is notified of the daily decisions by white or black-coloured smoke funnelled from the top of the Sistine Chapel, which comes from a cast-iron stove.

Black smoke indicates an inconclusive answer, while white smoke indicates that a new pope has been selected.

One candidate will need to receive two-thirds of the vote for a day to be named the next pontiff.

Bryony Gooch27 April 2025 05:01

Nine-day mourning period begins following funeral

A nine-day mourning period, known as the novendiali, has officially begun following the funeral service for Pope Francis.

During this time, cardinals from around the world will arrive at the Vatican ahead of the papal conclave, the secretive gathering where a new pope will be elected.

Once the conclave begins, the cardinals will remain inside the Vatican until the election is complete.

Stuti Mishra27 April 2025 04:30

Photos: Pope Francis’s funeral in pictures

Stuti Mishra27 April 2025 04:24

When will the papal conclave begin?

The Vatican has yet to announce when the papal conclave begin, but the earliest date it can start is 5 May, the day after the Novemdiales ends.

Typically, the conclave must begin between 15 to 20 days after a pope dies, meaning it must start after 5 May but can be no later than 11 May.

Bryony Gooch27 April 2025 04:01

Record-breaking conclaves - the shortest and longest papal elections

It can take a matter of days or weeks for cardinals to select the next leader of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis’s election was surprisingly short, with the College of Cardinals only taking a day - five ballots - to proclaim him the next pontiff.

But the shortest conclave in history was believed to have taken place in 1503, when Julius II was elected in just under 10 hours to take over Pius III.

Meanwhile, the longest took place between 1268 and 1271, following the death of Pope Clement IV, where cardinals took years to decide that Gregory X would be their next leader. The long decision time was down to infighting between the cardinals.

Bryony Gooch27 April 2025 03:02

In pictures: Pope Francis's simple tomb in St Mary Major

Bryony Gooch27 April 2025 02:01

Pope Francis's funeral in pictures - a recap

Here is a visual recap of Pope Francis’s funeral, for those who missed the historic event which saw 400,000 mourners pay their respects in St Peter’s Square:

Bryony Gooch27 April 2025 01:02

Who could be the new Pope? The cardinals who might become the next head of the Catholic Church

The death of Pope Francis has set in motion a centuries-old ritual involving sacred oaths, performed by the cardinals who will elect his successor.

The process of electing a new Pope is shrouded in secrecy, with cardinals forbidden from communicating with the outside world what happens in the conclave, which takes place within the frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel.

The pontiff’s age, along with his health concerns in recent years – including his recent complex lung infection – led to questions being asked well before his death about who would succeed him.

As is always the case, in the months and years prior to the death of a pope, a selection of candidates known as papabile emerge as the frontrunners to become the new leader of the Catholic Church.

David Maddox, Bryony Gooch27 April 2025 00:00