How a New Pope is Elected: The Vatican Conclave Process Explained

Confirmation of Papal Death

• ✝️ The Cardinal Camerlengo is responsible for confirming the Pope's death, a process that has moved from traditional methods like tapping the head with a silver hammer to modern medical checks.
• 🇻🇦 Upon confirmation, the Cardinal Camerlengo becomes the temporary leader of the Vatican, tasked with sealing the late Pope's apartment and informing the cardinals.
• 🏛️ The Vatican enters a period known as 'sede vacante' (empty sea), symbolized by the Pope's throne being empty and changes to the Vatican's coat of arms.

Funeral Rites and Burial

• 🕊️ The late Pope's body is typically displayed in St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing, with the funeral held 4-6 days after death.
• 📜 Pope Francis simplified funeral rites, requesting burial in a simple wooden coffin, unlike previous popes who were interred in multiple caskets.

The Papal Conclave

• ⛪ The conclave, where cardinals elect a new pope, begins in the Sistine Chapel 15-20 days after the Pope's death.
• 🤫 Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the secret balloting, and they take an oath of confidentiality.
• 🗳️ Voting requires a two-thirds majority plus one vote to elect a new pope, and the process can last several days.
• 🔥 Ballots are burned after each vote; black smoke indicates a failed vote, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope.
• 📣 Once elected, the new pope is asked to accept and choose his papal name, after which a senior cardinal announces the election to the public with the words, "Habemus papam, we have a pope."