The Sacred Process of Choosing a New Pope

The death of a pope initiates a highly structured and sacred process that culminates in the election of a new leader for the Catholic Church. Guided by the Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis", promulgated by Pope St. John Paul II in 1996, this intricate procedure ensures a smooth and spiritually guided transition of papal authority.

The Role of the College of Cardinals

The College of Cardinals is solely responsible for electing the new pope. Composed of cardinal electors under the age of 80, the college consists of 135 members as of April 2025. Cardinal electors, although potentially involved in the preparations, are excluded from the voting process if they have turned 80 before the beginning of the “Sede Vacante” (the vacancy of the papal seat).

The College of Cardinals meets in the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave.

The General and Particular Congregations

Before the Conclave begins, two preparatory meetings take place: the General Congregations and the Particular Congregations.

General Congregations are attended by all Cardinals, including those over 80. They oversee key logistical preparations, such as accommodations for the electors and the setup of the Sistine Chapel for the election. They also appoint two respected ecclesiastics to offer reflections on the Church’s challenges and the papal election, set the date for these talks, decide when the voting will begin, and oversee the destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring and the Lead Seal—symbols used to authenticate Apostolic Letters.

Particular Congregations consist of a smaller group of cardinals and manage the day-to-day matters and minor decisions leading up to the conclave.

Secrecy and Integrity

"Universi Dominici Gregis" mandates strict confidentiality during the papal election. The entire election process is conducted within the sealed Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to ensure secrecy. Cardinal electors are completely cut off from the outside world—no letters, phone calls, or media access are permitted—to prevent any external influence and preserve the independence of their vote.

Events Before the Election

Immediately before the start of the papal election, a solemn Eucharistic celebration is held, featuring the votive "Mass Pro Eligendo Papa." This liturgy, attended by the cardinal electors, invokes divine guidance in choosing the new pope. In the afternoon, the Cardinals proceed in a solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel, where the Conclave formally begins.

Inside the Sistine Chapel, each cardinal elector takes an oath to faithfully fulfil the role of pope if elected, maintain complete secrecy about the election process, and resist any external interference. Then, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations announces "extra omnes", requiring all non-electors to leave the chapel. Only the Master and an ecclesiastic delivering a second meditation remain. The meditation emphasises the serious responsibility of electing the Pope and the need to act with sincere intentions.

After the meditation, both the ecclesiastic and the Master leave. The cardinal electors then pray following the "Ordo Sacrorum Rituum Conclavis", and the Cardinal Dean checks whether they are ready to vote or need clarification on election rules as outlined in Universi Dominici Gregis.

The Voting Process

To elect a pope, the Cardinals require a two-thirds majority of the votes from those present. If no one secures this majority after three days of inconclusive voting, the Cardinals pause the process for up to one day for prayer, discussion, and a spiritual exhortation delivered by the Cardinal Proto-Deacon. Voting then resumes. If no candidate receives the necessary vote after seven additional ballots, the Cardinals take another break. This process repeats after another seven unsuccessful ballots. After this, the Camerlengo consults with the Cardinals on how to proceed further.

After each round of voting, the ballots are burnt. When a candidate achieves the required two-thirds majority, the final ballots are also burnt, producing white smoke to signal that a new pope has been elected.

Announcing the New Pope

Once a new pope is elected, the Cardinal Dean asks the winning candidate whether he accepts the election. If the candidate accepts, he then chooses a papal name. The newly elected pope’s name is then publicly announced, and he delivers the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from the Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the beginning of his reign. Following a solemn inaugural ceremony, the Pope takes possession of the Patriarchal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, officially marking the start of his papacy.

Courtesy: Vatican News

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