Editorial
Here’s how the Catholic Church actually elects one.
It’s true that the cardinals are responsible for the entire process. But there’s an important caveat.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 can take part. As a result, only some 135 of the 252 cardinals are eligible to vote.
Meanwhile Pope Paul VI introduced a rule capping the number of voting cardinals at 120.
This means some might be excluded from voting. That or the limit will be disregarded.
The cardinals swear an oath of secrecy. No phones. No talking to the press. No outside communication.
Why? To let the Holy Spirit guide the election, free from politics or outside influence.
Hypothetically, any baptized male Catholic can become the Pope, even a layman. But that hasn’t happened since 1378.
In practice, the Pope is chosen from among the College of Cardinals. The voting process is deeply spiritual.
Each cardinal writes the name of his chosen candidate on a ballot, folds it, and places it in a chalice on the altar.
Then they pray: “I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge.”
To be elected, a man must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes.
If no one receives enough votes after several ballots, they pause and pray.
This can go on for days, weeks, months or years!
The longest Conclave was almost three years long.
After each round of voting, the ballots are burned.
Chemicals are added to the smoke to signal the outcome:
Black – no decision
White – we have a Pope
Once someone receives the required votes, the Dean of the College of Cardinals asks him two questions:
1. Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?
2. By what name shall you be called?
If he accepts, he becomes the Pope.
The new Pope is dressed in white, he prays, vests, and then appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The most senior cardinal announces:
“Habemus Papam!” (We have a Pope)
The new Holy Father then gives his first blessing, Urbi et Orbi (“to the City and to the World”).
The bells of St. Peter’s ring, and Christians around the globe rejoice.
A successor to Saint Peter has been chosen.
