Francis’ successor will be selected by cardinals at the conclave that begins on May 7. Cardinals, known as the “princes of the church,” rank just below the pope in the Roman Catholic Church; together, they are known as the College of Cardinals. When a pope dies, the college chooses a successor.

The process to elect the 267th pope begins Wednesday as cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel. They will decide whether to continue Pope Francis's reforms or return to traditional practices. The conclave,

For the first time, the majority of cardinals to choose a pope are not from Europe, as Catholic demographics shift. But Europe remains the largest source of cardinals.