The 2025 papal conclave convened on May 7, 2025 to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who died after a prolonged illness on April 21, 2025. Only cardinals under the age of 80, 135 out of the 252 current cardinals, are eligible to vote for the next pope. To start this year’s conclave, 133 cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel, took an oath of secrecy, and were locked in (“conclave” is Latin for “with a key”) until they select the 267th Bishop of Rome.
How the papal conclave works
Voting for candidates happens up to four times a day. Each paper vote is burned: black smoke signals no decision, white smoke announces success. A candidate must secure a two‑thirds majority—89 votes with the current electorate—to be declared pope. When that threshold is reached, the senior cardinal deacon proclaims “Habemus Papam,” (Latin for we have a pope) and the new pontiff steps onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to greet the world.
Where are the voting cardinals from?
94 countries have a cardinal. Of those, 71 countries have at least one cardinal who is eligible to participate in the 2025 papal conclave. This map shows the countries with cardinals according to the Holy See (click on map for a larger version).
Map of cardinals that can vote for the pope
Countries with the most cardinals
Out of the 135 eligible cardinals, Italy retains its rank as the country with the most cardinals with 51 total and 17 voting cardinals. The United States has the second-most cardinals with 17 total and 10 eligible to participate in the conclave. Brazil comes in third with 7 voting cardinals but ranks fourth in a three-way tie with France and Argentina for the most overall cardinals (8). Spain is the country with the third-most cardinals with 13 but only has 5 voting cardinals.
Table: Countries with only one voting cardinal
A total of 54 countries have one voting cardinal:
Free weekly newsletter
Fill out your e-mail address to receive our newsletter!
By entering your email address you agree to receive our newsletter and agree with our privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.
| Country | Electors | Non-Electors | Total Cardinals | Continent |
| Algeria | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 | Oceania |
| Belgium | 1 | 0 | 1 | Europe |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 0 | 1 | Europe |
| Burkina Faso | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Cape Verde | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Central African Republic | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Chile | 1 | 3 | 4 | South America |
| China | 1 | 2 | 3 | Asia |
| Colombia | 1 | 2 | 3 | South America |
| Croatia | 1 | 0 | 1 | Europe |
| Cuba | 1 | 0 | 1 | Central America |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| East Timor | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| Ecuador | 1 | 0 | 1 | South America |
| Ethiopia | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Ghana | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Guatemala | 1 | 0 | 1 | Central America |
| Guinea | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Haiti | 1 | 0 | 1 | Central America |
| Hungary | 1 | 0 | 1 | Europe |
| Indonesia | 1 | 1 | 2 | Asia |
| Iran | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| Iraq | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| Jerusalem | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| Kenya | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Korea | 1 | 1 | 2 | Asia |
| Lithuania | 1 | 2 | 3 | Europe |
| Luxembourg | 1 | 0 | 1 | Europe |
| Madagascar | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Malaysia | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| Malta | 1 | 0 | 1 | Europe |
| Marocco | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Mongolia | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| Myanmar | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 1 | Europe |
| New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 1 | Oceania |
| Nicaragua | 1 | 0 | 1 | Central America |
| Nigeria | 1 | 3 | 4 | Africa |
| Pakistan | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| Papua Nuova Guinea | 1 | 0 | 1 | Oceania |
| Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | South America |
| Peru | 1 | 2 | 3 | South America |
| Rwanda | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Serbia | 1 | 0 | 1 | Europe |
| Singapore | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | 2 | Africa |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | 0 | 1 | Asia |
| Sud Sudan | 1 | 0 | 1 | Africa |
| Sweden | 1 | 0 | 1 | Europe |
| Tanzania | 1 | 1 | 2 | Africa |
| Thailandia | 1 | 1 | 2 | Asia |
| Tonga | 1 | 0 | 1 | Oceania |
| Uruguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | South America |
Table: Countries with no voting cardinals
Of the 94 countries with a cardinal, the following 23 countries have no cardinals eligible to participate in the 2025 papal conclave:
| Country | Electors | Non-Electors | Total Cardinals | Continent |
| Albania | 0 | 1 | 1 | Europe |
| Austria | 0 | 1 | 1 | Europe |
| Bangladesh | 0 | 1 | 1 | Asia |
| Bolivia | 0 | 1 | 1 | South America |
| Czeck Republic | 0 | 1 | 1 | Europe |
| Dominican Republic | 0 | 1 | 1 | Central America |
| El Salvador | 0 | 1 | 1 | Central America |
| Honduras | 0 | 1 | 1 | Central America |
| Ireland | 0 | 1 | 1 | Europe |
| Laos | 0 | 1 | 1 | Asia |
| Latvia | 0 | 1 | 1 | Europe |
| Lebanon | 0 | 1 | 1 | Asia |
| Mali | 0 | 1 | 1 | Africa |
| Mauritius | 0 | 1 | 1 | Africa |
| Mozambique | 0 | 1 | 1 | Africa |
| Panama | 0 | 1 | 1 | Central America |
| Romania | 0 | 1 | 1 | Europe |
| Senegal | 0 | 1 | 1 | Africa |
| Slovenia | 0 | 1 | 1 | Europe |
| Sudan | 0 | 1 | 1 | Africa |
| Uganda | 0 | 1 | 1 | Africa |
| Venezuela | 0 | 2 | 2 | South America |
| Vietnam | 0 | 2 | 2 | Asia |
