The number of votes required to elect a new pope in a conclave is a two-thirds majority of the cardinal electors present. For example, in the recent 2025 conclave with 133 cardinal electors voting, at least 89 votes were needed to elect the pope

. Key points about the voting process:

• Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, known as cardinal electors, with the usual cap being 120 electors, though the number can vary slightly

• The ballots are secret and each elector writes the name of their chosen candidate on a ballot.
• After voting, the ballots are counted and verified by scrutineers to ensure the number of ballots matches the number of electors.
• A candidate must receive a two-thirds supermajority to be elected pope; if no candidate achieves this, voting continues in multiple rounds.
• If after many rounds no pope is elected, the process includes pauses for prayer and reflection, and eventually a runoff between the top two candidates, still requiring a two-thirds majority

In summary, the "two-thirds majority" rule means that if there are 133 electors, a candidate needs at least 89 votes to become pope. This threshold adjusts depending on the number of electors present at the conclave.