Election Of A New Pope

Over the next 2 3 weeks certain rituals will take place and a successor to pope john paul ii will be chosen by the roman catholic electing cardinals.

Election of a new pope. Concerns around political interference led to reforms after the interregnum of 1268 1271 and pope gregory x s decree during the second council of lyons. If a new pope is not selected after 30 votes the cardinals may choose to impose a majority vote which would allow selection of a new pope by a simple majority. A papal conclave is a gathering of the college of cardinals convened to elect a bishop of rome also known as the pope the pope is considered by catholics to be the apostolic successor of saint peter and earthly head of the catholic church.

Peter s basilica in the. Basically the process will involve 5 steps. On the third day after the decease the new pope was elected being invariably chosen from among the presbyters or deacons of the roman church cf.

2 3 5 and an embassy was despatched to constantinople to request the official confirmation of the election. Peter s habemus papam we have a pope before the new pope processes out and imparts his blessing on the city of rome and the entire world. Two ballots each are held in the morning and afternoon for a total of four per day.

The process of electing a new pope has begun and the process is a centuries old process. A two thirds plus one majority is required to elect a pope. The announcement is made from the central balcony loggia of st.