The process of choosing a new pope is called a papal conclave and involves the following key steps:
- Who votes: Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. Currently, there are about 135 cardinal electors worldwide
- Where it happens: The voting takes place in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, a small independent state within Rome
- The voting process: Cardinals cast secret ballots, writing the name of their chosen candidate on paper and depositing it in a chalice. Voting occurs up to four times a day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority plus one vote
- Smoke signals: After each round, ballots are burned. Black smoke (fumata nera) signals no decision, while white smoke (fumata bianca) signals a new pope has been elected
- Acceptance and announcement: When a candidate receives the required votes, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks if he accepts. If he accepts, he chooses a papal name and is vested in papal garments. 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
- Secrecy and rules: Cardinals swear an oath of secrecy before voting and are cut off from outside communication during the conclave. Breaking secrecy results in excommunication
- Eligibility: In theory, any baptized male Catholic can be elected pope, but in practice, the new pope is almost always chosen from among the cardinals
This centuries-old ritual combines religious tradition, secrecy, and a supermajority voting system to select the leader of the Catholic Church
