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February 24, 2025 | 06:01 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pope Francis was reported in critical condition due to double pneumonia, requiring him to be supported with oxygen supplements and blood transfusions, as per Reuters. This distressing news has shifted the public attention to the future of the Catholic Church and how a new Pope is going to be chosen.
Many people are aware that Popes are traditionally elected for life through a process known as the papal conclave. However, the intricacies of this long-standing tradition remain unfamiliar to many. This article delves into the details of the papal conclave, exploring its historical significance and procedures based on insights from Britannica and other reliable sources.
How is a New Pope Chosen?
Pope, which translates to “father” in Latin, emerged as an affectionate title for the assigned leader of the Roman Catholic Church around the 9th century. Determining the next lineage of the Pope can be achieved through an extremely secretive election called the papal conclave.
Generally, every baptized Roman Catholic man is eligible to become a Pope. However, for the past 700 years, the highly-ranked position has consistently been filled by a member of the College of Cardinals.
Tempo reported that the majority of the 266 Popes in history have been of European origin. Pope Francis, born in Argentina, broke this pattern by becoming the first non-European Pope in 1,300 years.
What is Papal Conclave?
Papal conclave is a confidential election of the Pope that occurs upon the death or resignation of the current Pope. Due to its undisclosed nature, the Sistine Chapel or the place of the election, is completely sealed off from the public on the day of voting.
Beyond maintaining confidentiality, the voting cardinals are required to swear an oath of secrecy before engaging in the selection process. If cardinals fail to keep the information intact, they can be excommunicated, according to the Archdiocese of Toronto.
How is the Process of Papal Conclave?
While the history of papal elections remains uncertain, the process for the last centuries carries similar patterns.
Around 120 cardinals under 80 years old will cast a secret vote for their chosen candidates by writing the names on a ballot and placing it in a chalice on the altar. Once the counting ballot system is concluded, these papers are then burned on a stove placed in the Sistine Chapel.
If no candidate secures the necessary two-thirds majority, additional voting rounds take place. During a papal conclave, up to four voting sessions can be conducted daily.
To signal the conclusion of the election, a secondary stove in the Sistine Chapel releases smoke infused with chemicals, making the results visible to the public. Black smoke signifies that a Pope has not yet been elected, whereas white smoke announces the successful selection of a new Pope.
What is Next After the Papal Conclave?
The duration of a papal conclave has varied significantly throughout history. In the 13th century, the process extended for nearly three years, while in the 18th century, it lasted around four months. In contrast, the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis was completed in just 24 hours after five rounds of voting.
Following the election, a representative from the College of Cardinals formally announces the new Pope from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where thousands of faithful gather to witness the historic moment.
Clad in a white robe and adopting a newly chosen papal name, the newly elected Pope then addresses the public for the first time.
The papal conclave remains one of the most sacred and highly secretive traditions of the Catholic Church, ensuring a structured and time-honored process in selecting a new Pope. For the latest news about Pope Francis, see the list of his potential replacements here.
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