How the Pope is chosen: a guide to understanding the conclave
On May 7, the conclave to elect the new pope of the Catholic Church will begin in a process shrouded in secrecy and symbolism. Here we explain everything you need to know about this complex process.
Who elects the pope?
Pope
Cardinals
Archbishops and
Bishops
Priests
Deacons
Laity and
Consecrated people
Pope
Cardinals
Archbishops and
Bishops
Priests
Deacons
Laity and
Consecrated people
Pope
Cardinals
Archbishops and Bishops
Priests
Deacons
Laity and Consecrated People
Pope
Cardinals
Archbishops and Bishops
Priests
Deacons
Laity and Consecrated People
How many cardinals there are and how many vote
Where are they from?
How and where the voting takes place
The cardinals gather to vote every day in the Sistine Chapel, which will be closed to visitors during that time.
On the afternoon of May 7, the cardinals will process to the Sistine Chapel after a mass officiated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals. There they will take their seats, and the conclave will officially begin. That day they will vote only once.
90 or more votes are needed to reach the required two-thirds majority.
If there is no majority, the votes will be repeated. There can be two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon until a new successor is elected.
If, after several rounds, the necessary majority is not achieved, the cardinals may delegate the decision to a small committee (usually between 9 and 15 cardinals) with the authority to choose. This procedure — known as election by compromise — is still theoretically allowed in exceptional cases, but hasn't been used in modern times.
Any baptized man could be elected pope, but since 1378 only cardinals have been appointed. A cardinal over 80 could also be selected, even if not present in the conclave due to age.
The vote is held behind closed doors. While secluded in the Sistine Chapel, cardinals cannot communicate with the outside world or use cellphones.
The cardinals write the name of their choice on a paper and place it in a ballot box. They cannot vote for themselves.
The vote is secret, as is everything that happens in the Sistine Chapel. Pope Benedict reinforced this requirement and demanded “absolute and perpetual” discretion, banning recordings and making it explicit that anyone who breaks the secrecy will be automatically excommunicated.
After the votes are counted, the ballots are burned. If there is no result, the smoke is black. If a new pope is agreed upon, white smoke (fumata bianca) will appear. Different chemicals are added to produce these colors.
Once elected, the new pope accepts the position and chooses a name. He will then appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s Square to announce “Habemus Papam.”