The Pope is chosen through a secretive and centuries-old process called the papal conclave, conducted by the College of Cardinals, the highest-ranking officials in the Catholic Church.
Eligibility
- Technically, any baptized Catholic male can be elected Pope, but in practice, the new Pope is almost always chosen from among the Cardinals, who are senior church leaders appointed by the Pope
Who Votes
- Only Cardinals under the age of 80 at the time the papacy becomes vacant are eligible to vote, known as cardinal electors. There are usually around 120 eligible voters
The Conclave Process
- When the Pope dies or resigns, the eligible Cardinals gather in the Vatican, specifically in the Sistine Chapel, to begin the conclave. The chapel is sealed, and the Cardinals take an oath of secrecy
- Voting is done by secret ballot. Each Cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on a ballot, folds it twice, and drops it into a chalice after praying
- Four rounds of voting occur each day (two in the morning and two in the afternoon) until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority vote
Voting Outcome Signals
- After each round, the ballots are burned in a stove with chemicals. Black smoke signals no decision has been made yet, while white smoke signals a new Pope has been elected
Election Confirmation
- Once a candidate receives the required two-thirds vote, the Dean of the College of Cardinals asks if he accepts the election. Upon acceptance, the new Pope chooses a papal name and is vested in papal garments
- The senior Cardinal Deacon 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 city of Rome and the world
This process ensures a careful, confidential, and spiritual selection of the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
