Following Pope Francis' death on Monday, the Vatican began preparing for the conclave where cardinals will vote on the next pope.

How Voting Works: All 252 cardinals will attend a special mass before heading into the Sistine Chapel where they take a vow of secrecy and vote in private. Only 135 of the cardinals are eligible to vote because those over the age of 80 are only allowed to take part in debate and are forbidden from voting. Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a ballot and drops it into the chalice. There are up to four rounds of voting per day. If no one has reached the required two-thirds threshold, the ballots are burned with chemicals that make black smoke. When a new pop is selected, the smoke will be white. 

What to Expect: Pope Francis appointed 108 of the 135 cardinals eligible to vote, so while some moderate conservatives may be able to block a candidate they consider radical, it's unlikely a staunchly conservative candidate will be elected. An ideal candidate would likely be charismatic, diplomatic, ideologically moderate, and have the skills to fix the church's budget deficit. While the majority of popes have been Italian, other popes have come from France, Germany, Syria, and Greece.

Who Are The Candidates?: Cardinal Pietro Parolin is the Vatican's current secretary of state and is known for his diplomatic skills. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi is a progressive candidate who could continue Francis' legacy. Cardinal Péter Erdő is a conservative favorite from Hungary. Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle is a Filipino cardinal closely aligned with Pope Francis' views. Other frontrunners could emerge, especially as the church has grown in the Global South. 

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