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The passing of Pope Francis marks a significant moment for the Catholic Church as it transitions to the next chapter in its leadership. Following the pope’s funeral, the Vatican has announced that a papal conclave will commence on May 7 to elect his successor.
This upcoming conclave raises the question of who will be the next leader, knowing that the selection will be made solely from among men, as women cannot be ordained as priests in the Catholic Church. The anticipation builds for the moment when the new pope will appear on the balcony in traditional papal attire to greet the assembled crowd in St. Peter’s Square.
This article delves into the intricacies of the conclave process, providing an informative step-by-step guide on how the next pope will be selected and inducted under the renowned frescoes of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.
Understanding the Papal Conclave
The papal conclave is a highly confidential assembly of cardinal electors, consisting of all cardinals under the age of 80, who are tasked with electing the next pope.
Currently, there are around 135 cardinal electors from various countries who will gather in the Vatican to select the successor to Pope Francis. Notably, a significant majority of these electors—108—were appointed by Pope Francis during his 12-year tenure. They represent diverse backgrounds from 71 nations, including 10 from the United States.
Start Date for the Papal Conclave
The Vatican has confirmed that the conclave is set to begin on Wednesday, May 7. Church regulations stipulate that the conclave must commence within 15 to 20 days following the death of a pope, which occurred on April 21 in this instance.
Process of the Papal Conclave
The methodology for selecting the new pope is steeped in tradition, incorporating a series of rituals and voting procedures that have developed over centuries.
On the first day, cardinal electors will isolate themselves from the outside world as they embark on the critical task of electing the next Bishop of Rome, a role synonymous with the papacy.
The proceedings kick off with a morning Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. During the afternoon, the cardinals will solemnly proceed into the Sistine Chapel, which will be thoroughly inspected to ensure there are no recording devices present.
Historically, the cardinals were confined within the Sistine Chapel until a new pope was elected, relying on the chapel’s ambiance for sustenance and rest. Today, they are allowed to leave for meals and sleep at Santa Marta House, a guest residence within Vatican City, until a consensus is reached.
Once the cardinals are present in the chapel, the bronze doors are sealed, marking the beginning of the voting process.
The Voting Mechanism
Prior to the conclave, discussions about potential papal candidates occur during “general congregations.” However, the actual voting mechanism is the critical next step. To elect a new pope, a candidate must secure a supermajority, which entails a two-thirds-plus-one vote from the cardinal electors. This requirement was formally adopted by Pope Benedict XVI just days before his resignation.
During the voting, every cardinal takes an oath of confidentiality; revealing any insights from within the conclave can lead to excommunication. Each elector writes their chosen candidate’s name on a ballot and anonymously places it in a chalice-urn. Meanwhile, three cardinals act as scrutineers, overseeing the ballot counting.
To accommodate those who are unable to attend the chapel, a separate gilded urn is used to transport ballots from sick cardinals. As the voting proceeds, the ballots are incinerated, producing a plume of smoke that informs the public—black smoke indicates no decision has been reached, while white smoke signifies a new pontiff has been elected.
Duration of the Conclave
The voting process will continue into the following days, with multiple ballots held each day. If no consensus is achieved after three days, voting is suspended for a day to allow for reflection and debate, led by the senior cardinal in the Order of Deacons.
Historical Context of Papal Elections
The longest conclave on record took nearly three years before selecting Pope Gregory X in 1281. In contrast, more recent conclaves have concluded much more swiftly. For example, Pope John Paul II was elected after eight ballots across two days in 1978, while Benedict XVI required just four ballots in 2005. Pope Francis’s election in 2013 was remarkably efficient, taking only five ballots over a span of 24 hours.
Post-Conclave Procedures
When a candidate achieves the required votes, he is asked to accept the papacy. His acknowledgment is marked by saying “Accepto,” the Latin for “I accept.” Following this, he will announce his chosen papal name to the cardinals. Historically, the name “John” remains the most frequently selected, while some names have only been used once. Notably, Pope Francis was the first to adopt a new name style.
The ceremony culminates with the ballots being burned once more—this time without additives to create the anticipated white smoke, accompanied by the ringing of bells to signal the election of a new pope. The newly elected pontiff is then dressed in papal vestments before stepping onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he is introduced to the waiting crowd by the cardinal deacon with the phrase “Habemus papa,” meaning “We have a pope.”
In this dramatic moment, the new leader of the Catholic Church will offer his first blessing to the gathered faithful.
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