Goa, May 5 -- The Vatican has announced that a secret conclave to elect the next pope will begin on May 7, following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday. His funeral was held last Saturday, drawing global tributes.

The closed-door meeting will take place inside the Sistine Chapel, with 135 cardinals from around the world expected to participate. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed that the cardinals will begin with a solemn mass at St. Peter's Basilica before proceeding into the conclave, where they will remain isolated from all outside communication until a new pontiff is elected.

This ancient and highly secretive process will start with one round of voting on the first afternoon, follow...