Selecting a Pope

Selecting a Pope On Tuesday, March 12, 115 Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church will begin the Conclave to select the successor of Pope Benedict XVI, who entered into retirement at the end of February. There has been extensive coverage in the media over the past few weeks about who might become the new Pope, but just exactly how is a new Pope selected? The College of electors of the Supreme Pontiff is composed solely of the Cardinals of the Church. Those Cardinals who are eighty years of age or older do not take part in the election. They can, however, take part in the preparatory meetings of the Conclave. The Cardinal electors and those who assist in the running of the election are housed within Vatican City. The election itself takes place in the Sistine Chapel under the strictest of secrecy. In preparation for the election of the new Pope, a series of General Congregations of Cardinals are held in the Apostolic Palace. One purpose of these General Congregations is to allow the Cardinals the opportunity to discuss, meditate upon and reflect upon the problems currently facing the Church and to also consider some of the desirable characteristics for the new Pope. From the beginning of the electoral process until the public announcement that the election of a new Pontiff has taken place, the lodgings, the Sistine Chapel and the areas reserved for liturgical celebrations are closed to unauthorized persons. The Cardinal electors are not to communicate by any means with persons outside the election area nor are they permitted to engage in conversation with anyone they might encounter. Apart from the Cardinal electors, authorized persons include those necessary for the actual election process, a number of priests from the regular clergy for hearing confessions in the different languages, two medical doctors for possible emergencies and a suitable number of persons for preparing and serving meals and for housekeeping. All of these people, including the Cardinal electors, swear and sign oaths of secrecy. The Conclave begins in the morning with, as one might expect, a Eucharistic celebration. In the afternoon, the Cardinal electors, in choir dress, assemble in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace and process to the Sistine Chapel, all the while invoking the assistance of the Holy Spirit with the Veni Creator. Upon arrival in the Sistine Chapel, all of the cardinal electors in turn swear and sign the oath of secrecy. When this is completed, all of those not taking part in the conclave must leave the Sistine Chapel. For the valid election of a new Supreme Pontiff, two-thirds of the votes are required, based on the total number of electors present. If the number of Cardinals present is not divisible equally by three, one additional vote is required. For this Conclave, a total of seventy-seven votes will be needed for the election of a new Pope. If the election actually begins on the afternoon of the first day, only one ballot is to be held. On the following days, two ballots shall be held in the morning and two in the afternoon, until such time as a new Pope is chosen. If, after three days, no election has taken place, voting is suspended for a maximum of one day to allow time for prayer, informal discussion among the voters, and a brief spiritual exhortation given by the senior Cardinal in the Order of Deacons. Voting then resumes and, after seven ballots, there is a similar pause with the exhortation this time being given by the senior Cardinal of the Order of Priests. Voting then resumes again and, after a further seven ballots, there is a pause, with the exhortation this time given by the senior Cardinal of the Order of Bishops. There are additional procedures in place if there is still no election following another seven ballots. The voting process occurs in three stages. The first phase consists of the preparation and distribution of the ballot papers, with each Cardinal elector receiving at least two or three, and the drawing by lot of the names of three Scrutineers, three Infirmarii (responsible for collecting the votes of the sick) and three Revisers. The ballot paper must be rectangular and must have in the upper half, in print if possible, the words Eligo in Summum Pontificem; the lower half must have space for writing the name of the person chosen. The second phase of the voting process comprises the placing of the ballots in the appropriate receptacles, the mixing and counting of the ballots (matching the number collected with the number of Cardinals voting) and the opening of the ballots. After each ballot has been opened and read, it is pierced with a needle through the word Eligo, and placed on a thread. After all of the names have been read out, the ends of the thread are tied in a knot and the ballots are placed in a receptacle. The final phase of the voting process includes the counting of the votes, the checking of the count and the burning of the ballots. When a new Pope has been elected, he is asked by either the Cardinal Dean or the Cardinal who is first in order and seniority “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?” Once consent is given, he is then asked “By what name do you wish to be called?” A document is then drawn up certifying acceptance by the new Pope and the name taken by him. He immediately becomes Bishop of the Church of Rome, true Pope and Head of the College of Bishops. The Conclave ends immediately after the new Supreme Pontiff assents to his election. White smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel announces to the waiting world that the Cardinal electors, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, have chosen the new Vicar of Christ. The announcement is made to the people by the senior Cardinal Deacon that the election has taken place. He also proclaims the name of the new Pope. The new Pope then imparts his first Apostolic Blessing Urbi et Orbi from the balcony of the Vatican Basilica. .

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