Explaining the conclave process
International
The conclave to elect the 267th pope will begin on Wednesday May 7 and will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.
The process begins with each of the 135 cardinals taking an oath and pledging to maintain absolute secrecy in relation to the election.
All election procedures happen within the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Apostolic Palace which will be sealed off until the new pontiff is chosen. The cardinals (who must be aged under 80 in order to vote) must not send letters or make or receive phone calls during the conclave and are not permitted to follow any media during this time.
To elect a new pope, a two-thirds majority of the electors present is required and there will be a maximum of two voting ballots per day.
After each ballot, all the votes are counted and all ballot papers are burned with a chimney over the Sistine Chapel giving out black smoke until a pope is elected. White smoke will flow from the chimney once a new pope has been chosen.
If the cardinals can’t decide on a candidate after three days of voting, a break of up to one day is allowed for prayer and free discussion among voters.
Once a cardinal is chosen and has given his consent to become the new pope, he will choose the name by which he wishes to be known. He then acquires full and supreme authority over the universal Church at which point the conclave ends.
Cardinal Proto Deacon then announces the name of the new Pontiff to the faithful with the famous line Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; Habemus Papam, which translates, “I announce to you a great joy, we have a pope”.
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