Election Process Of A Pope

The election of a new pope used to take a very long time.

Election process of a pope. The process of electing a new pope has begun and the process is a centuries old process. The voting continues until a two thirds majority is reached for a candidate. Uniquely the cardinals are then shut into the vatican.

The process of electing a new pope has begun and the process is a centuries old process. 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. 2 instead the pope is elected by 120 elector cardinals.

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. Procedures similar to the present system were introduced in 1274 with the promulgation of ubi periculum by gregory x based on the action of the magistrates of viterbo during the interregnum of 1268 1271. The procedures relating to the election of the pope have undergone almost two millennia of development.

If there are more than thirty three votes without an election the pope may be chosen by a simple majority. Upon the election of a new pope the smoke from the ballots will be white and bells will ring to announce a successful election. 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.

This was caused by the length of time it took cardinals to arrive in rome for the election but also the inability of the cardinals to agree. Basically the process will involve 5 steps. The current pope does not designate a successor nor is the pope elected by popular vote of all catholics although both of these methods have been used at various times in the past.