Following the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church prepares for the papal conclave—a centuries-old, secretive process to elect a new pope and spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics worldwide. In this detailed explainer, we tell you about the steps of electing a new pope, from the gathering of cardinals in the Sistine Chapel to the secret ballots, the importance of the conclave in guiding the future of the Catholic Church and what happens once a pope is elected, including the iconic white smoke and the 'Habemus Papam' announcement.
