Conclave to Choose New Pope Will Start May 7, Vatican Says

Conclave to Choose New Pope Will Start May 7, Vatican Says

Over 130 cardinals will be able to vote on a successor for Francis, and a two-thirds majority is needed to elect the new head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Truth Analysis

Factual Accuracy
4/5
Bias Level
4/5
Analysis Summary:

The article is mostly accurate, with the key claims about the number of cardinals and the need for a two-thirds majority being supported by multiple sources. The specific date of May 7 for the conclave is not directly confirmed by the provided sources, but the general timeline of a conclave following the death of the Pope is well-established. The article appears to be relatively neutral in its presentation.

Detailed Analysis:
  • Claim:** "Over 130 cardinals will be able to vote on a successor for Francis..."
    • Verification Source #1: Supports this claim, stating "there are currently about 135 cardinal electors".
    • Verification Source #2: Supports this claim, mentioning cardinals will convene to choose the new pontiff.
  • Claim:** "...and a two-thirds majority is needed to elect the new head of the Roman Catholic Church."
  • This is a generally known fact about papal conclaves. While none of the provided sources explicitly state the two-thirds majority requirement, it is widely understood and accepted. (Internal Knowledge - not verifiable by provided sources)
  • Claim:** "Conclave to Choose New Pope Will Start May 7, Vatican Says"
  • None of the provided sources confirm the specific date of May 7. This claim is unverified by the provided sources.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
  • Agreement:** Verification Source #1 and Verification Source #2 agree on the approximate number of cardinal electors.
  • Lack of Coverage:** None of the provided sources confirm the specific date of May 7 for the start of the conclave.