election of Pope and choosing a name

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How is the election of a pope actually done? How does the public find out the results of an election? How does the pope choose his name?

-- (Wozniakfam@aol.com), January 03, 1999

Answers

Response to election of pope and choosing a name

Simply, The Cardinals are sealed in a room ( the Sistene Chapel-sp?) they pray that the Holy Spirit will show then who should be the next Visible Head of the Church and they vote. Each not knowing who the other is voting for. This happens over and over untill some name receives a certain number of votes. They don't get out until this happens and have no contact with the outside world. The ballots are burned after each vote. ( the chimney is visable from outside ) A chemical packet is added to produce white smoke when someone has been chosen. He can then choes any name he wishes, by the way no one has ever selected Peter. There are a lot more details involved but that is the general idea of how it works.

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (REPSFO@Prodigy.net), January 03, 1999.

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