A new pope is not chosen on a fixed calendar date; he is chosen in a special election called a conclave , which happens only after a pope dies or resigns.

When is the new pope chosen?

  • The College of Cardinals (cardinals under age 80) elects the new pope in a secret conclave in the Sistine Chapel.
  • By church rules, the conclave normally begins 15–20 days after the pope’s death or resignation , to allow time for funeral rites and meetings.
  • Once the conclave starts, the cardinals hold up to four votes per day (two in the morning, two in the afternoon) until someone gets at least two‑thirds of the votes.
  • There is no fixed length ; some conclaves have ended in a day or two, others have taken longer, but voting continues until a candidate reaches the required majority.

What tells the world a new pope is chosen?

  • After each round of voting, ballots are burned in a special stove; black smoke means no decision, and white smoke means a new pope has been elected.
  • Once a cardinal accepts the election and chooses a papal name, he is presented to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the announcement “Habemus Papam” (“We have a Pope”).

In short: the new pope is chosen during the conclave, which usually starts about 2–3 weeks after a pope’s death or resignation and ends as soon as one man receives a two‑thirds majority of the cardinals’ votes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.