The Konkeli Ceremony is due to take place on the afternoon of May 7 and is expected to take part in the process of electing the new Pontiff, 135 cardinals up to 80 years old.

More specifically, 53 come from Europe, 37 from North and South America, 23 from Asia, 18 from Africa and 4 from Oceania.

The vast majority of these high -ranking Catholic clergymen who have the right to vote and elect – that is, 110 – was designated by Pope Francis. Of today’s cardinals, 22 were selected by Pope Benedict and 5 by John Paul II.

When the cardinals enter the Sistine Hat, the phrase in the Latin “extra omnes” will be heard, that is, “outside everyone”, which marks the official launch of the process. According to the Roman Catholic Church, the Cardinals, until they elect the new Pope, must have absolutely no contact with the rest of the world. Two votes are held a day and two -thirds of the vote are needed, so that white smoke can be released from the world -renowned chimney of Sistina’s hats. This is the sign that announces that the new Holy Father of the Roman Catholic Church has been elected.

After each vote, there is an obligation to destroy the ballots. If Francis’ successor is not elected until the 34th vote, the electors should choose between the two candidates who have gathered the most preferences.

The first Conclavian, with particularly strict rules for the Cardinalians, took place in the city of Viterbo, just outside Rome, in 1274 AD. The whole process, with a ban on leaving the voting hall and limited food supply, had been deemed necessary because the cardinals had failed, for 33 months, to elect the new Pontiff.