Conclave To Elect New Pope Set To Begin May 7. What Is That?

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

THE VATICAN ANNOUNCED THE CONCLAVE TO ELECT A NEW POPE WILL BEGIN NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 7.

NOW THAT POPE FRANCIS’ FUNERAL IS OVER, THE SISTINE CHAPEL IS CLOSED TO VISITORS AS IT PREPARES FOR ELIGIBLE MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS TO SEQUESTER THEMSELVES IN THE BUILDING UNTIL A DECISION IS MADE. 

SO HOW EXACTLY DO THEY PICK A NEW PONTIFF?

THERE ARE CURRENTLY 252 CARDINALS SERVING IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ACROSS THE WORLD, BUT ONLY 135 WILL MEET FOR THE UPCOMING CONCLAVE.

ONLY CARDINALS UNDER THE AGE OF 80 ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR A NEW POPE.

A NEW POPE IS CHOSEN BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF TWO-THIRDS.

THAT MEANS AT LEAST 90 OF THE CARDINALS VOTING IN THIS CONCLAVE WILL HAVE TO AGREE UPON POPE FRANCIS’ SUCCESSOR.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MEETING, ONE BALLOT IS HELD. AFTER THAT, THE CARDINALS VOTE TWICE A DAY UNTIL A NEW PONTIFF HAS BEEN APPOINTED.

OFTEN, A NEW POPE IS CHOSEN FROM AMONG THE RANKS OF CARDINALS IN THE CONCLAVE.

EVERY TIME THE CONCLAVE VOTES, THE BALLOTS ARE BURNED AND A PLUME OF SMOKE RISES INTO THE AIR ABOVE ST. PETER’S SQUARE.

IF THE SMOKE IS BLACK, THE HOLY SEE REMAINS VACANT. 

WHEN ENOUGH CARDINALS HAVE AGREED ON A CANDIDATE, HE IS THEN ASKED IF HE ACCEPTS THE PAPACY. IF SO, HE CHOOSES A NAME BY WHICH HE WISHES TO BE KNOWN, THEN THE BALLOTS ARE BURNED AGAIN. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, THEY WILL PRODUCE WHITE SMOKE. 

THE NEW PONTIFF THEN DONS HIS NEW PAPAL VESTMENTS AND SITS ON A THRONE IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL TO RECEIVE THE OTHER CARDINALS AS THEY SWEAR OBEDIENCE TO THE CHURCH’S NEW LEADER.

FROM THE CENTRAL BALCONY OF ST. PETER’S BASILICA OVERLOOKING THE SQUARE, THE SENIOR CARDINAL DEACON WILL ANNOUNCE TO THE WORLD WHO THE NEW POPE IS.

TO GET ALL YOUR LATEST UPDATES ON THE PROCESS OF PICKING A NEW POPE DELIVERED RIGHT TO THE PALM FOR YOUR HAND, MAKE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.