Vatican City's beloved Pope Francis has met his demise.

The Catholic Church is preparing for a significant event, as the 2025 Vatican Conclave approaches. This gathering of the Church's most important priests, known as cardinals, will take place following the burial of Pope Francis, who has expressed his wish to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore, a church in Rome.

The conclave is scheduled to begin no later than May 10th, although the exact date of the election of the new Pope remains unknown. The cardinals will lock themselves in together and vote for a successor to lead the Church.

The smoke from the burning voting papers will signal the outcome of the election. Black smoke indicates that no new Pope has been chosen, while white smoke signifies a new Pope has been elected.

The cardinals will meet in Rome, the capital city of Italy, where St. Peter's Basilica, a large church located within the Vatican, serves as the venue for the conclave. It is also the current resting place of the deceased Pope.

Italy, a member of the EU, the European Union, is a country in Europe with a population of over 60 million people, most of whom speak Italian. Important politicians from around the world, including Germany's Federal President Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Scholz, and U.S. President Trump, are expected to attend the funeral.

Throughout his life, Pope Francis has relied on Saint Mary, the mother of Jesus, and it is fitting that the conclave will take place in Rome, a city rich in history and religious significance. Among the cardinals participating in the conclave are notable German-speaking cardinals such as Friedrich Wetter, Walter Kasper, Reinhard Marx, Walter Brandmüller, Rainer Maria Woelki, Gerhard Ludwig Müller from Germany; Christoph Schönborn from Austria; and Kurt Koch and Emil Paul Tscherrig from Switzerland.

The new Pope, once elected, will reside in the Vatican and have the authority to decide what happens in the Catholic Church. The Vatican, a small country located within the city of Rome in Italy, is a hub of religious and political activity.

As the world waits for the smoke to signal the election of a new Pope, the Catholic Church and the world look forward to the future under the leadership of the new spiritual leader.