Conclave to elect new Pope to begin on May 7

The Cardinals present in Rome have agreed to begin the conclave on May 7th, 2025, according to Vatican News.

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They made the decision at the Fifth General Congregation, held on Monday morning in the Vatican’s Synod Hall.

The conclave will take place in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, which will remain closed to visitors during those days.

The conclave will be preceded by a solemn Eucharistic celebration with the votive Mass Pro Eligendo Papa, attended by the Cardinal electors.

In the afternoon, the Cardinal electors proceed in a solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel, where the Conclave begins to elect the new Pope.

At the end of the procession inside the Sistine Chapel, each Cardinal elector takes the oath as prescribed in paragraph 53 of Universi Dominici Gregis.

Through this oath, they commit, if elected, to faithfully fulfill the Munus Petrinum as Pastor of the Universal Church.

They also pledge to maintain absolute secrecy regarding everything related to the election of the Roman Pontiff and to refrain from supporting any attempts of external interference in the election.

At this point, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations proclaims extra omnes, meaning that all individuals who are not part of the Conclave must leave the Sistine Chapel.

Only the Master himself and the ecclesiastic designated to deliver the second meditation remain.