The Catholic Crossroads: What This Conclave Might Decide

The Catholic Crossroads: What This Conclave Might Decide

Download Print-Friendly Version On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis, 266th Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, passed away. At that time, the Catholic Church entered a sede vacante period, which is Latin for “the chair is vacant.” On May 7, 2025, the College of Cardinals, 135 of which are eligible to vote but only 133 will participate, will convene in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor to Pope Francis. Who will it be? What could this mean f…