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Sometime in the next few years, the current Pope, Pope John Paul II will pass away and a new Pope will have to be chosen. The selection process has changed many times throughout the centuries, with the most recent change being made by the current Pontiff himself.
The first popes were chosen by the local clergy in Rome, however, at various times government officials chose to influence the vote or were so displeased by the selection, they appointed their own choice, who became known as the antipope.
In 1059 Pope Nicholas II and in 1179 Pope Alexander III made separate rulings stating all papal electors must be cardinals and have an equal vote in the electoral process. In 1274, Pope Gregory X added the caveat that the cardinals must meet within 10 days of previous pope’s death and that the cardinals would be kept in strict seclusion until a new pope was chosen. At one point during the voting history, if the cardinals could not come to a complete agreement within a short period of time, their daily food intake was cut until they finally made a decision. The current rules do not provide for such drastic measures.
Currently, there are three possible methods for choosing a new pontiff. A vocal vote may be taken, but the results must be unanimous in order for the vote to be valid. A unanimous selection by the cardinals, usually a 9 to 15 member committee, may also agree on a new pope and the vote will be considered valid, however, the most common method used today is election by ballot.
When the pope passes away, the Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals notifies all cardinals and calls a morning meeting. The cardinals draw lots to select three members whose job it will be to collect the ballots from the members. An additional three cardinals are selected to count the votes, and still another three will review the results. After the representatives are chosen, the balloting process begins. Each voting cardinal, who cannot be more than 80 years old by election law, writes the name of their choice for pope on a blank piece of paper. They each in turn, approach an altar, pledge themselves to perform their duty with honor and integrity and then place their ballot in the ballot box. At the end of the vote, the three appointed cardinals count the votes and the result is read to the remainder of the membership. If there is no winner, two additional voting sessions are scheduled for that same afternoon and conducted in the same manner.
As per tradition, the winner must win two-thirds of the vote plus one (to prevent a pope from voting for himself), but Pope John Paul II modified this rule in 1996, when he declared that if after 12 or 13 days there was still no winner, the cardinals could invoke a rule that would permit the selection of the new pope by an absolute majority.
Each time after the ballots are counted, they are then burned. If there is no declared winner, a chemical is mixed with the ballots that produces a thick black smoke when thrown into the fire. The waiting throngs of people outside in St. Peter’s Square watch the roof for the color of smoke emerging from the Vatican Palace signaling the election of a new pope. The sight of the black smoke always brings disappointed sighs from the crowd as they know it will be hours before the next vote is taken. When the voting is finally successful and a new pope is chosen, the ballots are burned without the chemical and white smoke pours from the rooftop. This is the sign the crowd has been waiting for and enthusiastic cheers and tears follow as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church has been chosen. Catholics around the world will then pray in their individual dioceses for the new pope’s good health and divine guidance to lead the Catholic community.
The winner of the vote is then asked if he accepts the decision of the committee. If he responds affirmatively, the Dean asks what name he chooses to be known by. The Dean announces it to the cardinals and all offer their congratulations and blessings.
The oldest cardinal then has the privilege of announcing the choice to the waiting crowd in St. Peter’s Square. He steps out onto the balcony and says in Latin “Habemus papam” (“We have a pope”). He turns then to introduce the new pontiff and the new pope steps onto the balcony. He is greeted by cheers as he blesses Rome and the rest of the world.
Most, but not all popes, are installed in their post with an official cornation ceremony, led by all the voting and non-voting cardinals, but the current Pope, John Paul II refused this rite and chose instead to be installed during a Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
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