When Will the Cardinals Choose the Next Pope? Conclave Date Revealed!

The search for the new Pope will begin soon. The conclave to determine the next leader of the Church will begin on May 7 at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. More than 130 cardinals are set to pick a new pontiff.

The church leaders participate in the traditional ceremony in near-total silence, voting in anonymity through various rounds until a pope is eventually selected. Keep reading to find out more..



. The conclave could have opened as early as May 5, but the cardinals gave themselves extra time to speak in more informal sessions that include cardinals over age 80, who will not be allowed into the Sistine Chapel once the conclave begins, according to AP . They will next meet on Tuesday morning (April 29).

A two-thirds majority is required before a successor to Pope Francis can be named. He passed away on April 21. Find out the cause of his passing.

See who are the early front-runners in betting odds to become the next Pope, and how the voting process works..