This secretive conclave to elect the next pope is being held in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. What's it like inside and how is it outfitted for this particular gathering?

The conclave, always held between 15 to 20 days of a pope's death, is when the College of Cardinals comes together to choose who will be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Conclave smoke: What black and white smoke signal during election of a new pope In the past, a papal conclave has been held 15-20 days after a vacancy.

A papal conclave, the election of a new pope, tends to begin 15-20 days after a papal vacancy. Black or white smoke indicates each day's decision.

Pope Francis' death kicks off the traditional papal conclave process for picking a new pope. Here's what to know about it and what the smoke means.

The Catholic Church's cardinal electors entered the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor to Pope Francis, as the 2025 papal conclave begins.

This three-year conclave led the new Pope, Gregory X, to declare in 1274 that future conclaves must be held behind closed doors, with no contact between cardinals and the outside.

A new pope will be chosen at a papal conclave. How does it work? A papal conclave will be held following the death of Pope Francis.

They held off on announcing the opening of the conclave until after his funeral on Saturday. The Vatican said more than 180 participated in the fifth informal meeting in Rome on Monday.