VATICAN CITY (AP) – Preparations for the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope commenced in earnest as Vatican workers installed a simple stove in the historic Sistine Chapel. The conclave is scheduled to start on May 7, following the death of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, on April 21 at the age of 88.

On Saturday, the Vatican released a video showcasing various preparations underway for the conclave. Workers installed the stove, along with a false floor to ensure the chapel’s surface was even. Additionally, simple wooden tables were arranged for the cardinal electors, who will cast their votes in the chapel. A ramp was also added to accommodate any cardinals requiring wheelchair access.

In the lead-up to this pivotal event, fire crews were observed on Friday attaching a chimney to the chapel roof. This chimney will be vital for signaling to the public whether a new pope has been elected, with distinct smoke signals indicating the outcome of the voting process.

The conclave represents a significant moment in the Catholic Church as cardinals gather to elect a successor to Pope Francis. The importance is underscored by the intense speculation surrounding the candidates, particularly concerning their health and viability for the role. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni refuted media reports on Friday regarding health issues faced by one of the leading candidates, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, emphasizing that the reports were unfounded.

The intrigue around candidates’ health echoes the experience of Francis himself in 2013, where speculation surrounding his physical condition became a point of discussion during the voting process. The dynamics during conclave often involve efforts from various factions to influence the outcome, either by promoting or undermining specific candidates based on perceived weaknesses or strengths.

Bruni further informed that two cardinal electors would not be participating in the conclave due to health reasons, reducing the number of participating cardinals to 133, with four additional cardinals expected to arrive in Rome. The absent cardinals include Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, the retired archbishop of Valencia, Spain, and Cardinal John Njue, the retired archbishop of Nairobi, Kenya.

The conclave procedures will commence with a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who is the dean of the College of Cardinals. Following the Mass, the cardinal electors will be sequestered, after which they will process into the Sistine Chapel to take oaths and cast their first ballots. If no candidate secures the necessary two-thirds majority—89 votes—on the initial ballot, the papers will be burned, producing black smoke to indicate that no pope has been elected.

The cardinals will then retire for the night, returning for additional rounds of voting the next day until a new pope is chosen. Every two rounds of voting will conclude with the burning of the ballots in the stove. If a candidate is not selected, the ballots will be combined with particular chemicals to produce black smoke, while a successful election will result in white smoke signaling the news to the world. This very signaling of white smoke occurred on March 13, 2013, when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was announced as Pope Francis.

The ongoing preparations are further complemented by informal discussions among the cardinals, where they reflect on the future needs of the Catholic Church and the qualities needed in its next leader, as the conclave draws near.