So what happens now?
The conclave begins a minimum of fifteen days and a maximum of twenty days after the Popes death. The 115 voting cardinals will stay at the Santa Marta residence and on the 18th of this month will vote in the Sistine Chapel.

It is widely known that cardinals discuss potential candidates and exchange views, but all are sworn to secrecy when they enter the Sistine chapel and would face excommunication if they broke that vow. Even the premises where the cardinals reside will be searched to ensure that there is no electronic devices.

All communication with the outside world in the form of TV, Radio, phone, letter or newspapers is forbidden.

The ballots
On the first day there will be one ballot and up to four ballots on each of the following days, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. The cardinals write out their choice on a piece of paper. When they have finished voting the ballots are tallied and the number of votes must equal the number of electors. If they don’t, the ballots are burned and a new vote is taken.

At the end of each day all ballots are burned and either black smoke or white smoke rising from the Vatican will indicate whether a new pope has been chosen or not. Black smoke will mean no Pontiff has been chosen and white smoke will mean a Pope has been chosen by a two thirds majority.

Pope John Paul changed the election rules. He ruled that if no Pope is chosen after approximately twelve days, that a Pope should be decided on by the majority vote.

When a new Pope has been elected an announcement will then be made from the central window of St. Peters Basilica – “Habemus Papam” (meaning “we have a Pope”).