Margherita Stancati

So the Pope's passing will lead to a period of mourning. So for a few days, that is what the church and the faithful will focus on. After that, there will be a funeral. And after that, there will be a conclave, which is a gathering of cardinals that will meet in the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel and start choosing a new Pope.

The conclave requires two-thirds of the cardinals to agree on who the new pope will be. All cardinals under the age of 80 will get to participate in the election. It's significant that Pope Francis himself has appointed about two-thirds of the cardinals who will be participating in the conclave. And how long does this usually take? It's hard to say. It can take days. It can take longer than that.

The conclave requires two-thirds of the cardinals to agree on who the new pope will be. All cardinals under the age of 80 will get to participate in the election. It's significant that Pope Francis himself has appointed about two-thirds of the cardinals who will be participating in the conclave. And how long does this usually take? It's hard to say. It can take days. It can take longer than that.

The conclave requires two-thirds of the cardinals to agree on who the new pope will be. All cardinals under the age of 80 will get to participate in the election. It's significant that Pope Francis himself has appointed about two-thirds of the cardinals who will be participating in the conclave. And how long does this usually take? It's hard to say. It can take days. It can take longer than that.

But usually it's a process that takes a few days and that is marked by kind of white smoke coming from the roof of the Sistine Chapel.

But usually it's a process that takes a few days and that is marked by kind of white smoke coming from the roof of the Sistine Chapel.

But usually it's a process that takes a few days and that is marked by kind of white smoke coming from the roof of the Sistine Chapel.

It's extremely hard to tell. You know, when Pope Francis became pontiff 12 years ago, no one expected he would be the chosen one. So we'll have to wait and see.

It's extremely hard to tell. You know, when Pope Francis became pontiff 12 years ago, no one expected he would be the chosen one. So we'll have to wait and see.

It's extremely hard to tell. You know, when Pope Francis became pontiff 12 years ago, no one expected he would be the chosen one. So we'll have to wait and see.

The new pope will be inheriting a church that is a lot more global than the previous church for most of its history. The Vatican, for instance, produced European popes. Pope Francis already marked a break in the past because he was from South America. And I think we'll see that tendency will increase. I think we'll increasingly see an international church

The new pope will be inheriting a church that is a lot more global than the previous church for most of its history. The Vatican, for instance, produced European popes. Pope Francis already marked a break in the past because he was from South America. And I think we'll see that tendency will increase. I think we'll increasingly see an international church

The new pope will be inheriting a church that is a lot more global than the previous church for most of its history. The Vatican, for instance, produced European popes. Pope Francis already marked a break in the past because he was from South America. And I think we'll see that tendency will increase. I think we'll increasingly see an international church

We have seen a decline in church attendance in Europe, but other parts of the world have become more important for the Catholic Church in terms of followers. I'm thinking of South America or Africa. So I think the church is evolving. It's transforming. It's going to become less Europe-centric and much more global.

We have seen a decline in church attendance in Europe, but other parts of the world have become more important for the Catholic Church in terms of followers. I'm thinking of South America or Africa. So I think the church is evolving. It's transforming. It's going to become less Europe-centric and much more global.

We have seen a decline in church attendance in Europe, but other parts of the world have become more important for the Catholic Church in terms of followers. I'm thinking of South America or Africa. So I think the church is evolving. It's transforming. It's going to become less Europe-centric and much more global.

But that comes with its own set of challenges because there will be parts of the Catholic world that are more liberal and others that are much more conservative. And, you know, taking care of 1.4 billion faithful will be a challenge for anyone.

But that comes with its own set of challenges because there will be parts of the Catholic world that are more liberal and others that are much more conservative. And, you know, taking care of 1.4 billion faithful will be a challenge for anyone.

But that comes with its own set of challenges because there will be parts of the Catholic world that are more liberal and others that are much more conservative. And, you know, taking care of 1.4 billion faithful will be a challenge for anyone.