As Vatican officials prepare to lay Pope Francis to rest Saturday at St. Peter's Basilica, members of the College of Cardinals are likely looking ahead to the possibly lengthy process to choose his successor.

At the end of a pope's reign, a secret vote takes place at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Rome. Here is the election process for a new pope.

The conclave is made up of the College of Cardinals, a group who assists with central Church affairs. It consists of 135 electors, 108 of whom were appointed by Francis during his papal tenure, who will decide on the new pope shortly after the Novemdiales period is over.