FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi confirmed Monday that the date for the conclave to elect the next pope has been finalized and will begin on May 7.
The announcement follows a meeting of cardinals at the Vatican earlier in the day.
The conclave will bring together 135 cardinals under the age of 80 from around the world to decide on the successor to Pope Francis.
The process, held in the Sistine Chapel, is expected to follow the traditions of previous conclaves, which lasted just two days in 2005 and 2013.
The cardinals will gather in secrecy, taking an oath to maintain confidentiality throughout the election process.
A two-thirds majority is required to elect the new pontiff, who will become the 267th leader of the Catholic Church.
The Vatican has yet to release further details about the conclave proceedings.