Vatican City: Following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, global attention has turned to the Vatican, where the process of selecting the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church is underway. Pope Francis, noted as the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff, succumbed to a prolonged illness characterized by a 'prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis' linked with thrombocytopenia, according to Vatican officials. His passing leaves the papal seat vacant, prompting the Catholic Church to begin the time-honored procedure to elect a new pope through the Papal Conclave, a sacred tradition for selecting the church's leader.

According to Anadolu Agency, the election of the next pope will occur during the Papal Conclave inside the Sistine Chapel. This event will be conducted by the College of Cardinals, which consists of the highest-ranking officials within the Church. Presently, there are 252 cardinals, with 138 being under the age of 80 and eligible to vote. While any baptized Catholic male is technically eligible, the position has traditionally been filled by a cardinal. This tradition is anticipated to continue as cardinals convene in isolation after Pope Francis's funeral to elect a new spiritual leader for over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.

The Papal Conclave is expected to commence within two to three weeks following Pope Francis's death, allowing time for a nine-day mourning period and for cardinals globally to assemble at the Vatican. The voting process is rich in ritual, secrecy, and symbolism, permitting up to four rounds of balloting per day. To be elected, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority, with ballots being cast in secret. Cardinals approach Michelangelo's fresco of the Last Judgment to recite a prayer before voting. This process continues until a candidate achieves the necessary votes, which can extend over several days.

The results of each voting round are meticulously counted and recorded by designated cardinals. After each round, the ballots are burned in a special stove, with the world watching for the smoke signals: black indicating no decision, and white announcing the election of a new pope. This tradition has persisted for centuries, capturing the anticipation and attention of crowds in St. Peter's Square as they await the outcome.