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Following the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church will initiate the conclave process to elect his successor. This involves cardinals under 80 years old, sequestered in the Vatican, voting until a two-thirds majority is reached. The result is signaled by smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney: white for a new pope, black for further voting. The conclave, a centuries-old tradition, maintains strict secrecy, with cardinals living simply and focusing solely on the election. The process typically lasts less than four days, culminating in the announcement "Habemus Papam!"

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.