conclave

A conclave is a private meeting of cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church convened to elect a new pope. When a pope dies or resigns, the cardinals gather in a secure location, often the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, to discuss and vote on his successor. The process is secretive, and the cardinals are not allowed to communicate with the outside world during the deliberations. Once a new pope is elected, white smoke is released from the chapel's chimney to signify the election's completion, and the new pope is announced to the public.