People visit the Sistine Chapel on the reopening day of the Vatican museum on February 1, 2021 in Vatican City, as the city-state eases its closure aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the new coronavirus. Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 aged 88, a day after making a much hoped-for appearance at Saint Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement.
Andreas SOLARO / AFP
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The Vatican has closed the Sistine Chapel on Sunday in preparation for the conclave, where cardinals will gather to elect the next pope following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April at the age of 88, international media reported.
Pope Francis was laid to rest on 26 April after a funeral in St. Peter’s Square attended by world leaders and hundreds of thousands of mourners. A nine-day period of mourning is ongoing before the conclave can officially begin.
In preparation for the ancient electoral process, the Sistine Chapel has been closed to visitors. Red-robed cardinals will soon gather under Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes to cast their votes.
Among the preparations underway is the installation of the chimney, where the burning of ballots will signal the outcome of the votes — black smoke for no decision, white smoke for the election of a new pope.
The duration of the conclave and how long the chapel will remain off-limits remains uncertain. The conclave, customarily held between 15 and 20 days after a pope’s death, is anticipated to start between 6 May and 11 May.
