The Papal Conclave: Rites for Pope's Death and Election

The Papal Conclave Process

• 🔑 The papal conclave is a centuries-old, highly secretive method for choosing a new pope, virtually unchanged for eight centuries.
• ⛪ In theory, any baptized Catholic man can be elected, but in practice, nearly every pope has been a cardinal prior to election.

Voting and Secrecy

• 📍 Around 120 cardinals under 80 years old convene in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to vote in secret.
• 📝 Cardinals write their chosen candidate's name on a ballot and place it in a chalice on the altar.
• 🚫 Communication devices are prohibited, and cardinals risk excommunication if they leak information.

Determining the Outcome

• 💨 After each round of voting, smoke is released from the chapel's chimney: black smoke indicates no candidate has been selected, while white smoke signals a new leader has been chosen.
• 📊 If no candidate receives the required 2/3 majority, another round of voting occurs, with up to four rounds per day.
• ⚖️ Under rules by Pope Benedict XVI, if no selection is made after 33 rounds, the cardinals proceed to a runoff between the top two contenders.

Announcing the New Pope

• 🗣️ The newly elected leader is presented to the public with the words "Habemus Papam," meaning "We have a pope."
• 👑 The new pope dons a fresh white cassock, chooses a new papal name, and takes the reins of the Catholic Church.