As the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new pope, a select group of cardinals gather in secrecy to choose the next leader. What happens during this ancient process?
When a reigning pope dies, an immediate duty falls to the camerlengo, a cardinal whose title translates to ‘chamberlain.’ The camerlengo declares the pope is deceased and administers the Holy See until a successor is chosen. The current camerlengo is Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the first American in that post.
The Camerlengo is the chief official of the College of Cardinals and plays a crucial role in the papal transition process.
He is responsible for overseeing the funeral of the deceased Pope, ensuring the smooth transfer of power, and organizing the conclave to elect a new Pope.
The Camerlengo must also ensure the Apostolic Palace and its contents are secure during the transition period.
This position has been held by senior cardinals since the 15th century.
Cardinals from around the world gather in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a hotel-like facility next to St. Peter’s Basilica. They live there during the conclave, which must begin within 15 to 20 days after a pope dies or resigns. To join the conclave, cardinals must be under 80 years old.
The conclave begins with oaths of secrecy and seclusion, under threat of excommunication. Cardinals file into the Sistine Chapel for a mass, where they swear a secrecy oath in Latin, touching the Holy Gospels. The dean of the College of Cardinals presides over the ceremony.
After the ceremony, the papal master of ceremonies says ‘Extra omnes,’ meaning only the cardinal electors can remain. The cardinals then begin voting, typically holding one round of voting in the evening and two rounds each morning and afternoon. If no winner emerges with a two-thirds majority, the ballots are burned to produce smoke.
The color of the smoke signals whether a new pope has been elected. White smoke indicates a successful vote, while black smoke means the cardinals will need to vote again. The Church uses chemicals to produce the right color, rather than wet straw or dry straw.
All conclaves from the 1900s onwards have lasted under four days. Pope Francis was elected pope on the conclave’s second day. After a successful vote, the winning candidate is asked two questions: whether they accept their election as pope and what name they choose.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, known as Pope Francis, is the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church.
Born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was ordained as a priest in 1969 and became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998.
He was elected as the Pope on March 13, 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI.
Known for his progressive views, 'Pope Francis' has emphasized social justice, poverty, and environmental issues.
He has also implemented various reforms within the Catholic Church.
Before the new pope is elected, official documents are filled out, and the new pope is taken into a sacristy to be fitted with papal attire. The senior cardinal deacon appears on the balcony over St. Peter’s Square, announcing ‘Habemus Papam!‘ The new pope then emerges onto the balcony to deliver his first blessing.
The process of electing a new pope is a complex and secretive ritual within the Catholic Church.
The College of Cardinals, comprising senior bishops and archbishops, gathers in conclave to select the next leader.
Candidates are proposed and discussed before being voted on by the cardinals using paper ballots.
A two-thirds majority is required for election.
The newly elected pope then chooses a papal name, typically one associated with humility or a significant figure from the Church's history.
This process has remained largely unchanged since the 13th century.
Outside the chapel, the famed Papal Swiss Guard stands guard. They line up in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, waiting for the new pope to emerge and begin his reign.
