When does conclave start? What to know about choosing the next pope

Conclave to elect new pope to begin in 15-20 days

Word on Fire's Father Steve Grunow joins LiveNOW's Andrew Craft to explain what happens next after the death of Pope Francis.

After the death and funeral for Pope Francis, the centuries-old process now begins for selecting the next pontiff. 

Here's the timeline for what happens after a pope dies, and how a new pope is elected:

Pope Francis funeral

Pope Francis funeral homily: 'Pope among the people'

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re eulogized Pope Francis on Saturday as a pope of the people, a paster who knew how to communicate to the "least among us" with an informal, spontaneous style. Re called Francis "a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone."

The funeral for Pope Francis took place Saturday morning, with many world leaders and some 200,000 people attending.

Tens of thousands more gathered along the streets to watch as he was transported to his final resting place. 

Francis was remembered as a "pope among the people" in his funeral Mass, which was given by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

RELATED: Pope Francis funeral homily: Watch and read full transcript

When does conclave start? 

What's next:

After a period of mourning, cardinals will gather to elect the next pope in the centuries-old ritual known as the conclave. 

The backstory:

By tradition, the conclave must begin 15-20 days after the death or resignation of the pope. 

Big picture view:

Pope Francis died on Monday, April 21, meaning the conclave will begin sometime between May 6 and May 11. 

It can start sooner if the cardinals agree. 

RELATED: How is a new pope chosen? All about the conclave

Who will be the next pope?

The conclave: How is a new pope elected?

Here's the timeline for what happens after a pope dies, and how a new pope is elected.

Big picture view:

Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under age 80 and thus eligible to participate.

While it's impossible to predict who the next pope will be, some cardinals are considered to have better chances than others.

How many cardinals are there in the Catholic Church? 

Cardinals wearing mitres attend the late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images)

By the numbers:

There are currently 252 worldwide cardinals in the Catholic Church. Of them, 135 are "cardinal electors," who gather in the Vatican to choose the new pope. 

Big picture view:

As a body, cardinals are in charge of the Holy See’s affairs in-between popes, albeit with limits.