A papal election is the process by which a new Pope is chosen in the Roman Catholic Church. This event occurs when the current Pope dies or resigns. The election is conducted by a group of senior church officials known as cardinals, who gather in a special assembly called a conclave. During the conclave, the cardinals vote in secret until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. Once a new Pope is elected, he is announced to the public, and the election is marked by the appearance of white smoke from the Vatican chimney, signaling that a decision has been made.