Pope Francis in Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica after the Vatican ceremony in Rome

We know that 149 cardinals took part last Friday. We currently do not know how many of them are voters or how many have arrived since yesterday. The Vatican’s press office can clarify these numbers closer to the conclave. At the time of the death of Pope Francis, there were 135 voting members of the College of Cardinale.

The 2013 conclave started 11 days after Benedict XVI. The entry date of the conclave was decided after only five days of general communities. But Benedict XVII announced his intention to ward off 17 days before Dede Vacante. Therefore, there was already a discussion about when the conclave should begin and there was no funeral to prepare. Many cardinals had already traveled to Rome at the beginning of the Interregnum.

The 2005 conclave started 16 days after the death of John Paul II.

And 20 days are still the maximum time that is permitted after the death of a Pope before the start of the election, even if some cardinal voters are not available.