Vatican Conclave: How Cardinals Elect a Pope

Few rituals fascinate the world quite like a papal conclave. The doors of the Sistine Chapel close, cardinals process in silence, and the world watches for smoke. With Pope Francis having appointed roughly 80% of the current cardinal electors, the 2025 conclave already carries his legacy.

Electoral ballots for Pope Francis in 2013: 5 ballots ·
Cardinal electors appointed by Pope Francis: 80% ·
Duration of longest 20th-century conclave: 5 days ·
2025 conclave winner: Cardinal Robert Prevost ·
Cardinal electors under age 80: 120

How is a pope elected in a conclave?

1. Cardinals under 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel and take an oath of secrecy.
2. The doors are sealed, and the outside world waits.
3. Two ballots are held each morning and two each afternoon.
4. A two-thirds majority of votes is required to elect a new pope.
5. If no majority is reached, ballots are burned with chemicals to produce black smoke. White smoke signals a successful election.
6. The new pope accepts, chooses a papal name, and appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the Habemus Papam announcement.

Five key facts, one pattern: the conclave process is both ancient and precisely codified in canon law, with each rule shaping how the next pope is chosen.

How long was the conclave for Pope Francis?

• Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013 after five ballots (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• The conclave lasted two days, March 12–13 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• Five ballots were cast before white smoke appeared (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• He was elected on the fifth ballot (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))

2013 conclave timeline

The 2013 conclave was relatively short: cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday, March 12, held two ballots that evening that produced black smoke, and returned Wednesday for three more ballots before white smoke finally rose from the chimney at 7:06 p.m. Rome time.

The implication: a five-ballot conclave is well within historical norms – the twentieth century’s longest (1922) lasted five days and fourteen ballots.

What is a cardinal’s salary?

• Cardinals do not receive a formal salary (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• They receive a monthly stipend (reportedly around €4,000–5,000) (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• Additional benefits include housing, transportation, and travel expenses (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• The highest stipend goes to cardinals serving in the Curia (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))

Sources of income for cardinals

Cardinals in the Roman Curia receive a “stipend” (not a wage) paid from Vatican funds, while diocesan cardinals are supported by their local dioceses. The amounts are not publicly disclosed in detail, but multiple sources indicate the range mentioned above.

The catch: calling it a “salary” misrepresents the church’s view – it is a provision for living expenses, not compensation for work. The distinction matters because cardinal income is often misunderstood as lavish.

Why did Pope Francis refuse to let people kiss his ring?

• A viral video showed Pope Francis pulling his hand away from a woman (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• Pope explained he had pain in his fingers (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• He prefers simpler gestures like a handshake or blessing (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• It is not a break from tradition, but personal preference (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))

The viral video incident

In a widely shared clip from October 2023, a woman tried to kiss the Pope’s ring during a public audience and Francis visibly withdrew his hand. The moment ignited debate about papal protocols and humility.

What this means: Francis has repeatedly signaled a less formal style, but the ring-kiss is a centuries-old custom. His action was not a doctrinal change – he later said his fingers were simply sore.

Which pope had a male lover?

• Pope Julius II was rumored to have male lovers (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• Pope Paul II was criticized for allowing homosexuals in his court (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• No definitive proof exists for most allegations (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• Historical accounts are often biased (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))

Historical context of papal homosexuality

Accusations of homosexual activity among Renaissance popes and cardinals were common, often weaponized by political rivals. While some claims, such as those against Pope Paul II, appear in contemporary chronicles, modern historians treat them cautiously due to the polemical context.

The trade-off: sensational claims make for good gossip but poor history. Without primary evidence, most of these stories remain unproven rumors.

What do red shoes mean in the Catholic Church?

• Red papal shoes symbolize the blood of martyrs (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• The tradition dates back to the 11th century (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• Pope Francis discontinued wearing red shoes (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• Originally practical footwear, later became ceremonial (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))

Symbolism of the color red

In Catholic iconography, red represents the blood of Christ and the martyrs. The pope’s red shoes were traditionally made of leather and later silk, adorned with a cross. Francis opted for plain black shoes, signaling his preference for simplicity.

The pattern: every papal symbol, from the fisherman’s ring to the red shoes, carries theological weight – but modern popes increasingly downplay the pomp.

Does the Vatican have a McDonald’s?

• There is no McDonald’s inside Vatican City (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• The closest McDonald’s is on Via della Conciliazione near St. Peter’s Square (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• Vatican has its own supermarket, pharmacy, and eateries (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• McDonald’s is in Rome proper, not Vatican territory (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))

Vatican’s policy on fast food

Although a branch of McDonald’s opened on the street leading to St. Peter’s in the early 2000s, it lies entirely within Roman jurisdiction. Inside the Vatican walls, the only food services are cafeterias run by the Vatican pharmacy and supermarket cooperative.

Why this matters: the “McDonald’s in the Vatican” story is a persistent urban legend that reflects the tension between the Church’s ancient traditions and modern consumer culture.

The absence of fast food within Vatican walls underscores its unique status as a sovereign state.

Timeline signal

• 13 March 2013 – Pope Francis elected after 5 ballots (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• May 2025 – Conclave elects Cardinal Robert Prevost on 4th ballot (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• 1922 – Longest 20th-century conclave (5 days, elected Pius XI) (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• 2005 – Conclave elected Benedict XVI after 4 ballots in 2 days (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))

The timeline underscores how quickly modern conclaves resolve, and Francis’s influence remains decisive.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Pope Francis elected in 2013 on 5th ballot (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• Cardinal electors under 80 rule (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• 80% of current cardinals appointed by Francis (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
• 2025 conclave elected Robert Prevost (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))

What’s unclear

• Exact date of next conclave (depends on pope’s health or resignation)
• Whether Pope Francis will ever resign
• Number of ballots needed for 2025 conclave (unknown until event – though now known: 4)

These confirmed facts anchor the narrative, while the unknowns keep the story open-ended.

Quotes section

My hand hurts, it’s just a personal thing.

Pope Francis, explaining his ring-kiss avoidance

Pope Francis appointed about 80% of cardinals, likely influencing the 2025 conclave.

BBC analysis (via Wikipedia summary)

Two ballots per day are held in the morning, two in the afternoon, until a two-thirds majority is reached.

Vatican News (Holy See’s official news service)

These voices from different perspectives emphasize the complexity of the conclave process.

Summary

The papal conclave is a blend of ancient ritual and strict legal process, shaped as much by the cardinals’ votes as by the pope who appointed them. For any reader watching the white smoke from St. Peter’s Square, the key takeaway is clear: the next pope reflects the legacy of the one before him – and with Francis’s appointees dominating the electors, his influence on the Church’s direction will persist long after his papacy ends. For more on biblical foundations, see our articles on John 3:16 Explained and Joshua 1:9 Meaning.

Frequently asked questions