Photos: Cardinals gather for conclave to elect Pope Francis successor

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Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 07: A person holds rosary beads in St. Peter's Square as people watch the Mass for the Election of the New Pope shown on screens before the start of the conclave on May 07, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinals attend a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinale Giovanni Battista Re (R) leads a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinale Giovanni Battista Re (2nd L) leads a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinals attend a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Faithful take photos on mobile phones during a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinale Giovanni Battista Re leads a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Faithful attend a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinals speak as they attend a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinals attend a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 07: A nun and others gather in St. Peter's Square to watch a broadcast of the Mass for the Election of the New Pope before the start of the conclave on May 07, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinals and nuns attend a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinale Giovanni Battista Re leads a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 7: Cardinals attend a mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals of the Catholic Church have descended on Vatican City to commence the papal conclave, the secretive voting process held in the Sistine Chapel that requires a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

May 07, 2025 at 7:41 am EDT

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