Conclave 2025: Who will succeed Pope Francis?

Conclave 2025: Who will succeed Pope Francis?

Marktplatz 7, 85049 Ingolstadt, Deutschland - The Catholic Church has prepared for the election of a new Pope that will be necessary after the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. Francis, who died at the age of 88, leaves a significant gap. The funeral took place on April 26, 2025 in the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore.

On May 7, 2025, the conclave begins, in which the cardinals of the Catholic Church come together to choose the successor. This event bears the name of the name, which is due to the Latin "Cum Clave" and means "with key". In a secret election, the eligible voters will determine 135 cardinals, three of whom come from Germany - Reinhard Marx, Rainer Maria Woelki and Gerhard Ludwig Müller - determine the new head of the church.

Preparation and sequence of the conclave

like Br.de , the cardinals are isolated from the outside world during the concrete to protect. In contrast to earlier times, when they were physically trapped, this happens symbolically today. The votes take place in the Sistine chapel, while the cardinals live in the Santa Marta guest house, everyone in their own room.

The election process is clearly structured: there are a maximum of four electoral courses per day, divided into two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Voting is released, and a candidate needs a two -thirds majority to be chosen. The duration of the conclusion is not defined and can vary from a few days to several weeks. Every time after an election, the ballot used is burned, with black smoke signaling that no pope has been chosen and white smoke shows the successful completion of the election.

public discussion and expectations

On Tuesday, May 6th, a panel discussion entitled "Conclave - Smoke Sign of Change will find?" instead of, organized by the Theological faculty of the KU . The event begins at 8:00 p.m. in the foyer of the marketplace 7 building and addresses the pressing questions about the upcoming conclave. Among the interlocutors are Prof. Dr. Katharina Karl, Prof. Dr. Rafael Rieger and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bärsch, as well as the theology student Annabell Kühnel. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Christian Klenk and Theresia Kamp.

Speculation about possible successors of Pope Francis are already in progress. The discussion about suitable candidates is emphasized by the general social, theological and political challenges in front of which the church is standing. These questions are not only discussed as part of the panel discussion, but also affect the upcoming votes in the Vatican, which are persecuted in the global Catholic community.

With the upcoming conclave, the Catholic Church is facing a crucial moment that could significantly influence the course of the institution in the coming years.