Following the death of Pope Francis last week, the Vatican announced the indefinite closure of its famed Vatican Museums as preparations are made for the upcoming papal conclave.
Pope Francis was the head of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years. His successor will be chosen through the centuries-old process officially known as the conclave, which the Vatican announced will begin on May 7.
Conclave to Select New Pope Starts Next Month, Shutting Down Museums
In addition to leading the Catholic Church, the new pope will be responsible for overseeing the Vatican Museums and their extensive holdings. A complex of historic structures in Vatican City, the museums house the vast collection of art and artifacts amassed by the Catholic Church over the centuries, from Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes to the ancient Roman masterwork Laocoön and His Sons. The Vatican Museums, which reportedly welcomed 6.8 million visitors in 2024, are among the most popular tourist attractions in the world.
The Vatican has not yet announced a reopening date for its museums, which are now closed in preparation for the papal conclave. This is because there is no fixed time limit for the conclave, which is set to begin on May 7 after a required nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis. The conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013 shut down Vatican City for less than a week. The longest conclave in history, which left the papacy vacant for nearly three years, took place in the 13th century.
What Is a Papal Conclave?
A conclave—an election to select a new pope—is held when the papacy is vacated, typically following the death or retirement of a sitting pontiff. The election is held by the College of Cardinals, the most senior members of the Catholic Church. The College of Cardinals comprises 252 individuals as of April 21. Only those under age 80 are eligible to vote, so 136 cardinals will serve as electors in the upcoming conclave, according to the Vatican.
Ahead of the conclave, the cardinal electors will gather at the Vatican from across the world. On May 7, they will enter the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of secrecy, and seal the church’s doors, sequestered until a new pope is chosen. Four rounds of voting are conducted each day, with each cardinal voting by secret paper ballot. This process is repeated until a single candidate receives two-thirds of the vote.
The outside world is notified of the conclave’s progress on a daily basis, when either white or black-colored smoke is funneled from the top of the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke indicates the cardinals have not yet reached a majority vote, and that the conclave will continue tomorrow. White smoke indicates that a new pope has been selected.
