Conclave to elect new pope to begin on 7 May, Vatican says

The closed-door meeting will begin in the Sistine Chapel and will involve some 135 cardinals from across the world.

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The closed-door meeting will start inside the Sistine Chapel on 7 May and will involve some 135 cardinals from across the world.

It follows the death of Pope Francis who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday and whose funeral was held on Saturday.

There is no timescale as to how long it will take to elect the next pope, but the previous two conclaves, held in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two days.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said cardinals will take part in a solemn mass at St Peter's Basilica, after which those eligible to vote will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the secretive ballot.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn05vg7dw72o

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