The process of choosing a new pope, called a papal conclave, involves the following key steps:
- Who votes: The pope is elected by the College of Cardinals, specifically those cardinals under the age of 80. Currently, there are about 133 cardinal electors worldwide who participate
- When it starts: The conclave begins within 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death or resignation. The cardinals gather in the Vatican and enter the Sistine Chapel, where the election takes place
- Secrecy: Before voting, cardinals swear an oath of secrecy. They are cut off from the outside world, surrender their phones, and the chapel doors are sealed to prevent outside influence. Breaking secrecy results in excommunication
- Voting procedure: Voting occurs up to four times a day (morning and afternoon sessions), with each cardinal writing a candidate’s name on a ballot in Latin ("Eligo in Summum Pontificem"). The ballots are folded to conceal handwriting and deposited in a chalice. The votes are counted aloud by designated cardinals
- Majority needed: To be elected, a candidate must receive a two-thirds plus one majority of the votes. This supermajority threshold was established by Pope Benedict XVI and is strictly enforced
- Smoke signals: After each round of voting, ballots are burned. Black smoke indicates no decision yet, while white smoke signals that a new pope has been chosen. This smoke is visible to the public outside the Vatican
- Acceptance and announcement: Once a candidate receives the required votes, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks if he accepts. If he agrees, he chooses a papal name and is dressed in papal vestments. The senior cardinal deacon then announces "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope") from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, and the new pope gives his first blessing to the world
- Duration: The conclave can last from a single day to several days or longer. Historically, some conclaves have lasted years, but recent ones typically last a few days
In summary, the election of a new pope is a secretive, ritualized process conducted by cardinal electors who vote repeatedly in the Sistine Chapel until a candidate obtains a two-thirds majority and accepts the role, after which the new pope is publicly announced
