The process to get a new pope unfolds through a papal conclave, a secretive and ritualized gathering of cardinal electors under the age of 80, who convene at the Vatican to elect the next pope
Steps to Elect a New Pope
- Conclave Timing : The conclave begins between 15 and 20 days after the pope's death or resignation, to allow cardinals to arrive and for funeral rites to be completed
- Cardinal Electors : About 135 cardinals worldwide, appointed by previous popes and under 80 years old, are eligible to vote. They usually come from diverse countries, reflecting the global nature of the Church
- Secrecy and Setting : The conclave takes place in the Sistine Chapel, which is sealed off from the outside world. Cardinals take an oath of absolute secrecy, with excommunication as the penalty for breaches
- Voting Procedure :
- Cardinals vote by secret ballot, writing the name of their chosen candidate on a folded paper.
- Each cardinal approaches the altar, prays, and deposits the ballot into a chalice.
- Four rounds of voting can occur each day.
- A candidate must receive a two-thirds plus one majority vote to be elected pope, a rule formalized by Pope Benedict XVI
- Smoke Signals :
- After each vote, ballots are burned.
- Black smoke ("fumata nera") indicates no decision has been reached.
- White smoke ("fumata bianca") signals that a new pope has been elected
- Acceptance and Announcement :
- Once a candidate receives the required votes, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks if he accepts.
- Upon acceptance, the new pope chooses his papal name.
- The senior cardinal deacon announces "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope") from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
- The new pope then appears publicly and imparts his blessing to the crowd
This process can take from a single day to several days or even weeks, depending on how quickly the cardinals reach consensus
. In summary, the election of a new pope is a centuries-old, highly secretive process involving a conclave of cardinal electors voting by secret ballot until one candidate achieves a two-thirds majority, followed by public acceptance and announcement
