Cardinals to elect new Pope in Vatican conclave

Following the death of Pope Francis, cardinals will convene at the Vatican for the conclave to elect the next Pope.

The term "conclave" originates from the Latin "com-" (together) and "clavis" (key), signifying a locked gathering or a closed room.

Out of 252 cardinals globally, 138 are eligible to vote, including three Filipinos: Luis Antonio Tagle, Jose Advincula, and Pablo Virgilio David.

While only cardinals below 80 years old are allowed to vote, all cardinals participate in the meetings and prayers concerning the "papal interregnum".

The Conclave must begin no earlier than 15 days after the papal vacancy, but this rule can be modified for an earlier start if all cardinal electors are in Rome.

The exact start date will be agreed upon by the cardinals in their General Congregations.

This conclave is notable for being the most diverse in the Catholic Church's history, with cardinals from over 90 countries, and Pope Francis appointed nearly 80% of them.