In the majestic Sistine Chapel, inside the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the 135 voting cardinals under 80 years old will choose the successor of Pope Francis in the coming weeks. The word “Conclave” comes from the Latin cum clavis, meaning “under lock and key.” It refers to the meeting of cardinals from all over the world to elect a new pope.

In 1970, Pope Paul VI set the age limit for voting at 80 years. The conclave is held within 15-20 days of the pope’s resignation or death, but it can start earlier if all the voting cardinals are already in Rome. Below is a brief glossary of this key event: