VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Here is what happens next in the Roman Catholic Church following the funeral of Pope Francis, after his death at the age of 88, and the announcement of the start of the conclave on May 7.
** The funeral marked the start of a nine-day period of mourning for the Church.
** The College of Cardinals oversees the day-to-day business of the Church during the period between the death of the pope and a new one being elected. They have limited power and much of the central Church administration grinds to a halt.
** The conclave to elect a new pope will start in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel on May 7.
** All cardinals under the age of 80 can take part in the secret ballot. They need a majority of at least two-thirds plus one to elect the new pope, so the voting can take several rounds spread over numerous days. When the election is concluded, the new pope is asked if he accepts and what name he wishes to take.
** The world learns a pope has been elected when an official burns the paper ballots with special chemicals to make white smoke pour from the chapel’s chimney. They use other chemicals to make black smoke indicating an inconclusive vote.
** A senior cardinal steps onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce “Habemus Papam” (We have a pope). The new pope then appears and gives the crowd in the square his blessing.
(Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Joshua McElweeEditing by Frances Kerry, Alexandra Hudson)
