Papal Conclave 2025: Quiz on Election Process, Sistine Chapel Art, and Cardinal Eligibility

On May 7, 2025, the papal conclave begins in the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will elect a new pope. The process, governed by strict rules, involves cardinals under 80 years old voting in secrecy. The Sistine Chapel's art, including Michelangelo's 'Last Judgment,' plays a significant role in the spiritual atmosphere. The election requires a two-thirds majority, with ballots burned to signal results: black smoke for no decision, white for a successful election. The newly elected pope appears on St. Peter’s Basilica balcony for the 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing.

The Sistine Chapel: A Sacred Stage for Discernment

The Sistine Chapel, named after Pope Sixtus IV who commissioned its construction between 1475 and 1483, has hosted nearly every papal election since 1492, with only five exceptions. Its walls and ceiling, adorned by Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Perugino, and Ghirlandaio, are not merely decorative. They serve a profound spiritual purpose.

St. John Paul II, who oversaw the restoration of the frescoes during his pontificate, enshrined the chapel as the permanent home of the conclave. In his apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, he emphasized that the chapel’s sacred art fosters “awareness of the presence of God, before whom each one will one day stand for judgment.”

Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment,” which looms over the altar, is particularly significant. It reminds the cardinal electors of their accountability before God as they choose the next spiritual leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics. Pope Benedict XVI once noted that the chapel’s art “speaks to consciences,” urging cardinals to interpret it through prayer.

Who Can Vote? Cardinal Eligibility and Age Limits

Not all cardinals are eligible to vote in the conclave. According to rules established by Pope Paul VI in 1975 and reaffirmed by subsequent pontiffs, only cardinals under the age of 80 at the time the papacy becomes vacant may participate as electors. This age limit was introduced to ensure that those casting votes are physically and mentally capable of bearing the weight of such a monumental decision.

Although the number of voting cardinals is ideally capped at 120, the 2025 conclave includes 133 electors due to exceptions made by Pope Francis. Of the 252 total cardinals, 117 are over the age limit and thus excluded from voting. The electors come from a record number of countries, reflecting the global nature of the Church.

While any baptized Catholic male is technically eligible to become pope, in practice, the pontiff has always been chosen from among the cardinals.

The Voting Process: Ritual, Secrecy, and Smoke

The conclave begins with a solemn procession into the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals chant the Latin hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus,” invoking the Holy Spirit. Once inside, they take an oath of secrecy under penalty of automatic excommunication. The phrase “Extra omnes” (“Everyone out”) is then declared, and all non-electors must leave. The doors are locked, and the cardinals are sealed inside until a new pope is chosen.

Voting typically begins on the afternoon of the first day, followed by up to four rounds per day—two in the morning and two in the afternoon. If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority after 13 days, the process shifts to a runoff between the two leading candidates, who are still required to reach the two-thirds threshold.

Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a paper ballot, folds it, and carries it to the altar. There, they place it on a plate and drop it into a chalice. After all votes are cast, the ballots are counted and threaded together with a needle through the word “Eligo” (“I elect”), then burned. The color of the smoke signals the outcome: black for no decision, white for a successful election.

The “Room of Tears” and the First Appearance

Once a new pope is elected, he is led to the “Room of Tears,” a small chamber adjacent to the Sistine Chapel. There, he dons the white papal vestments for the first time. The name of the room reflects the emotional weight of the moment, as many new popes have reportedly wept upon realizing the enormity of their new role.

The newly elected pope then appears on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the faithful with the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing—“to the city and to the world.”

Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know?

Here are some sample questions to test your knowledge of the papal conclave:

1. Which artist painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

   • Michelangelo

2. What phrase is declared to begin the conclave and clear the chapel of non-electors?

   • “Extra omnes”

3. What is the minimum number of votes required to elect a pope in a conclave of 133 electors?

   • 89 (two-thirds majority)

4. What disqualifies a cardinal from voting in the conclave?

   • Being over the age of 80

5. What is the name of the room where the new pope changes into his vestments?

   • The Room of Tears

6. What is the Latin hymn sung as the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel?

   • “Veni Creator Spiritus”

7. What color smoke signals the successful election of a new pope?

   • White

8. What is the term for a cardinal considered likely to become pope?

   • Papabile

9. What must cardinals swear to uphold during the conclave?

   • Absolute secrecy

10. What is the meaning of the word “conclave”?

    • From Latin “cum clave,” meaning “with key,” referring to the cardinals being locked in.

References

• What the Sistine chapel says to the cardinals
• The Sistine Chapel: Renaissance gem dazzles clergy and laypeople alike
• Get the Facts: What is the papal conclave, and how long will it last?
• Conclave: How a Pope is elected - Vatican News
• Election process for next pope commences with papal conclave
• How a new Pope is chosen: A step-by-step look at the Papal Conclave
• Understanding the conclave, the secretive process to choose a new pope
• Who will be the next pope? A ‘conclave’ will decide
• Conclave voters urged to elect a pope who seeks unity and avoids personal interest
• Conclave: Inside the secret election to choose the next Pope
• Test Your Knowledge of the Papal Conclave