A conclave is a gathering of the College of Cardinals convened to appoint the pope of the Catholic Church. Catholics consider the pope to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and the earthly head
The 1492 papal conclave was the first to be held in the Sistine Chapel.
Since the 2005 papal conclave, the cardinal electors reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae for the length of the conclave.
The camerlengo proclaiming a papal death
Cardinals, bishops and priests attending the funeral of Pope John Paul II
The College of Cardinals, also called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. As of 22 May 2026, there are 242 cardinals, of whom 117 are eligible to vote
Saint Peter's Basilica facade, Rome, Italy