The pope is elected through a process called the papal conclave, involving the College of Cardinals, the Church's senior officials. Here is how it works:
- Eligibility to Vote: Only cardinals under the age of 80 at the time the papal seat becomes vacant are eligible to vote. There can be up to 120 cardinal electors worldwide
- Conclave Setting: The conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Before voting begins, the cardinals take an oath of secrecy and the chapel doors are sealed to prevent outside influence
- Voting Process: Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a folded ballot and places it into a chalice. Voting rounds occur up to four times a day (two in the morning and two in the afternoon)
- Majority Required: To be elected pope, a candidate must receive a two-thirds supermajority of the votes. If no candidate achieves this threshold, the ballots are burned with chemicals producing black smoke, signaling no decision yet
- Duration: The voting continues daily until a candidate reaches the required two-thirds majority. If no pope is elected after about three days, the cardinals pause for prayer and reflection before resuming voting
- Final Steps: Once a candidate receives the necessary votes, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks if he accepts the election. Upon acceptance, he chooses his papal name and is introduced to the public. White smoke is released from the chapel chimney, and bells ring to signal the successful election
- Additional Details: If after many ballots no pope is chosen (usually after 33 or 34 votes), a runoff between the two leading candidates occurs. Candidates in the runoff do not vote
In summary, the election of a pope is a secret ballot by cardinal electors in the Sistine Chapel, requiring a two-thirds majority, with the process continuing until a candidate accepts the position and is publicly announced
