Following the death of Pope Francis, Rome is preparing to welcome many more pilgrims than those who had already planned to come. Despite the mourning, the Jubilee of Adolescents will proceed as originally scheduled, from April 25 to 27. Additionally, many heads of state and government have announced their presence.

Already yesterday, there was a huge increase in the number of people who spontaneously gathered in St. Peter’s Square. The public transportation company has increased the number of vehicles in service, and the Civil Protection Department has called in additional volunteers beyond those already on duty.

One hour after the official announcement of the Pope’s death, the Provincial Committee for Public Order and Safety convened to finalize the plan for managing security and logistics for the coming days, including the funeral — likely to be held on Saturday, April 26 — followed by the Conclave to elect the new Pontiff and the announcement and beginning of the new papacy. A Cabinet meeting has been scheduled for 11 a.m. today, during which the Civil Protection Department's Chief, Fabio Ciciliano, is expected to be appointed to coordinate all the involved activities and agencies — just as he did in 2005 during the funeral of Pope John Paul II, when two million people arrived in Rome.

As far as security is concerned, today the Civil Protection Department will move to what's called "S3" — the highest level of alert — and the existing no-fly zone has been expanded. Since yesterday morning, security measures in and around Vatican City and St. Peter’s Square have been reinforced, increasing the already-tight controls in place since the Jubilee began. In addition to uniformed officers on the streets and special task forces to prevent crimes or violent acts, river police patrols have also been deployed to monitor the Tiber and its banks. These enhanced measures will remain in place through the funeral, when the full “security plan” will kick in, involving thousands of officers. Helicopters will patrol the skies, and radar systems with a 300-kilometer range will monitor airspace. Fighter jets are on standby for emergency response. From the rooftops along Via della Conciliazione to Janiculum Hill and Piazza Risorgimento, special units of Police and Carabinieri, including sharpshooters, will ensure the safety of both dignitaries and pilgrims. Access points will be equipped with metal detectors, and a constant online surveillance effort by the Postal Police will work to prevent cyberattacks. The security team, coordinated by the Prefecture, has already managed similar events — just two years ago, they handled the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI.

After the funeral, Pope Francis will be buried — per his wishes — in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, alongside five other Popes who chose it as their final resting place. The Conclave process will then begin, leading to the white smoke and the announcement of the new Pontiff — the spiritual and political leader of the world’s smallest state.

This is a very unique form of voting, steeped in rituals and liturgies. While it has been repeated for centuries, the rules have evolved over time. But how exactly does the Conclave work? The term comes from Latin, cum clave, meaning “with a key” or “locked in.” The name comes from a historical episode in 1270 when the citizens of Viterbo, then the papal seat, locked the cardinals in the papal palace and even removed the roof to speed up the election of a new Pope — who turned out to be Gregory X. However, the first known papal election in a closed and secluded setting dates back to 1118, when the cardinals met in the Monastery of St. Sebastian on Rome’s Palatine Hill to elect Gelasius II.

The ritual begins with a Mass called Pro eligendo Romano Pontifice, during which the cardinals gather in St. Peter’s Basilica to pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit in selecting the new Pope. In the afternoon, the cardinal-electors — those who will vote — assemble in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, not far from the Sistine Chapel where the actual voting will take place. The procession arrives accompanied by liturgical chants.

In the days leading up to the Conclave, the Sistine Chapel is closed to visitors while work is done to eliminate any means of outside communication. The chapel is outfitted with desks for the electors and the special stove for the smoke signals. From the Sistine Chapel, the phrase “Extra omnes” — Latin for “Everyone out” — will be proclaimed by the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, officially beginning the voting process. At that point, the doors are closed, and the cardinals are left alone with Michelangelo’s Last Judgment. All communication with the outside world is cut off. The cardinals take an oath to uphold the rules of the Apostolic Constitution, to faithfully serve if elected, and to maintain secrecy about everything that happens during the vote. They then swear again on the four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — asking God’s help to carry out their task. Currently, there are 138 cardinal-electors, although about a dozen are over 80 years old and no longer have the right to vote.

Whether the vote results in an election or not, the ballots are burned, producing the smoke that signals the outcome to the outside world. Black smoke means no Pope has been elected; white smoke means a new Pope has been chosen. The ballots are burned to ensure secrecy — leaving no trace of how the cardinals voted. The stove inside the Sistine Chapel is specially set up for this purpose, and the color of the smoke is determined by chemicals added to the fire.

As the cardinals begin to see from the tallying of names that a new Pope has been elected, they begin to applaud. At that point, the newly elected Pope is asked in Latin, “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?” After a positive reply, he is asked: “By what name shall you be called?” After choosing a name, the white smoke is released. The new Pope then puts on his white garments and reappears before the cardinals for the singing of the Te Deum, marking the official end of the Conclave.

What follows is perhaps the most iconic moment of the entire process — and one that has become a famous phrase in itself: Habemus Papam. This is the moment the new Pope is presented to the world. As soon as the white smoke appears, the faithful fill St. Peter’s Square, eagerly awaiting to see the new face of the Pontiff. From the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Cardinal Protodeacon makes the announcement “Habemus Papam… with great joy,” revealing the name of the new Pope, who then steps forward to greet the faithful and give his first blessing.