Coverage dated April 20, 2025

Who picks the next pope? The 135 cardinals who make up papal conclave

Headline from Newsweek

The papal conclave will be influenced by Pope Francis, whose picks to the College of Cardinals increased its geographic diversity.

Newsweek's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

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Reports & sources

39 articles, oldest first.

NBC Los Angeles
Here's how a new pope is chosen at papal conclave (opens NBC Los Angeles)
Published Apr 20, 2025
NBC Los Angeles's feed description
Following the death or abdication of a pope, the Catholic Church's College of Cardinals meets at the Vatican to choose a new pope at a papal conclave.
Fox5 Atlanta
How is a new pope chosen? All about the conclave (opens Fox5 Atlanta)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Fox5 Atlanta's feed description
The death of Pope Francis brings about a centuries-old conclave tradition to elect the next pope. Here’s what to know.
NBC New York
What happens when a pope dies? Funeral and conclave explained (opens NBC New York)
Published Apr 20, 2025
NBC New York's feed description
Here's what happens after a pope dies, from his funeral to selecting a new pope for the Catholic Church.
ABC 30 Fresno
Electing a new pope: What happens next and what is a papal conclave? (opens ABC 30 Fresno)
Published Apr 20, 2025
ABC 30 Fresno's feed description
What to know about electing a new pope after the death of Pope Francis.
NPR
How is a new pope chosen? Here's how the conclave works (opens NPR)
Published Apr 20, 2025
NPR's feed description
Pope Francis's death sets an ancient machinery into motion. Soon, with a puff of smoke, the last absolute monarchy in Europe will get a new leader.
The Conversation US
How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave (opens The Conversation US)
Published Apr 20, 2025
The Conversation US's feed description
Holding a conclave to elect a pope is a tradition that goes back centuries.
Breitbart News
Papal Conclave Will Select a New Pope: Here's How It Works (opens Breitbart News)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Breitbart News's feed description
With the death of Pope Francis early Monday morning, the question is posed: who will replace him and how will it be decided?
Time
How a New Pope Is Chosen—and Who It Could Be (opens Time)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Time's feed description
Here’s what to know about how the process works and who some of the frontrunners are to succeed Francis.
Newsweek
Who picks the next pope? The 135 cardinals who make up papal conclave (opens Newsweek)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Newsweek's feed description
The papal conclave will be influenced by Pope Francis, whose picks to the College of Cardinals increased its geographic diversity.
Fox News
What is the papal conclave: Inside the ancient process of choosing the next pope (opens Fox News)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Fox News's feed description
After a pope dies, cardinals gather in a secret Vatican conclave to elect a successor, casting ballots under Michelangelo’s fresco until white smoke signals a new pope.
WHAS Louisville
When will the next pope be elected? What to know about the conclave (opens WHAS Louisville)
Published Apr 20, 2025
WHAS Louisville's feed description
Like his predecessors, Pope Francis was selected using an age-old method — a system known as the Papal conclave.
Just the News
How the next Pope will be chosen, and who it could be (opens Just the News)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Just the News's feed description
The Papal Conclave will gather in Rome to select the next head of the Catholic Church, likely from among the world’s Cardinals.
NBC New York
What is a Papal Conclave? How next pope is selected (opens NBC New York)
Published Apr 20, 2025
NBC New York's feed description
A Papal Conclave selects the next pope. Here's how it works.
Newsweek
How is a new pope chosen? What to know about the papal conclave (opens Newsweek)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Newsweek's feed description
Now that Pope Francis has died, a new pope will be chosen through the papal conclave. Here's what the process looks like.
The Guardian
Conclave: the Vatican’s secret process for choosing a new pope (opens The Guardian)
Published Apr 20, 2025
The Guardian's feed description
Cardinals will soon gather under Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling to elect Francis’s successor
WMUR
Pope Francis' death: How a new Pope will be selected (opens WMUR)
Published Apr 20, 2025
WMUR's feed description
As the Catholic world mourns the Pope, Catholic leaders look ahead to the conclave, the process by which Catholic Cardinals select the next Pope.
Insider
How is a new pope chosen? The papal conclave process explained. (opens Insider)
Published Apr 20, 2025
Insider's feed description
The secretive process will see Catholic cardinals vote on who will become the new pope and take the reins of the 1.39 billion-strong Catholic Church.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.