I read another thread which mentioned the election of a new pope, and it got me thinking that people might be interested in some of what's involved when a new Pope is elected. I hope someone perhaps finds the following interesting. Hopefully you will understand my ramblings, I'm not always as articulate as I would like to be.

On the morning of the day the Elections for the new Pope is to take place, the Cardinals celebrate Mass together in St Peter’s Basilica. They then gather in the Pauline Chapel and form into a procession to process to the Conclave. As they process, the Latin hymn, Venis Creator Spiritus is sung. The procession is formed in order of seniority: the Cardinal Dean first, followed by the Cardinal Bishops, then the Cardinal Priests and Cardinal Deacons. Behind the cardinals a group of officials and assistants follow. They process to the Sistine Chapel. The Cardinal dean then reads aloud an oath to the gathered cardinals and they each individually say: ‘and I …do so promise, pledge and swear. So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I touch with my hand’.

After all of the Cardinal Electors have taken this oath the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations issues an order: ‘Extra omnes!’ (All out!). He remains whilst an orator addresses the cardinals, reminding them of their grave duty. After this they leave the chapel and the election commences with only the Cardinal Electors present.

Any Christian male, whether a member of the clergy or a layman may, technically speaking, be elected Pope. (Unless they’re in schism, a heretic or ‘notorious for simony). However, the last person to become Pope and not be a Cardinal first was Pope Urban V1 in 1378. A secret ballot will now begin, and when someone received two thirds of the vote he is elected Pontiff. Each of the cardinals are given a ballot paper on which is written: ‘Eligo in Summum Pontificem’ ( I elect as supreme pontiff) and the cardinals write the name of their chosen candidate on it. (They’re asked to try to alter their normal handwriting so that the counters don’t recognise who’s voted for whom). They then fold the ballot paper lengthways and hold it between the thumb and index finger of their right hand, the hold the ballot paper up and go to the altar. (Again they go in order of seniority to the altar). On the altar is a large chalice, covered by a paten. As each cardinal reaches the altar he will say in a clear voice: ‘I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one whom, before God, I think should be elected.’ He then puts the paper onto the paten and then lets the paper fall off the paten into the Chalice.

Cardinals who are unable to attend to vote because of illness are visited by three cardinal infirmarians, who go to the sick cardinals, a special box with a slit at the top of it is kept for this purpose. These papers are taken to the chapel, put onto the paten and then slid into the chalice with the others.

There are three Cardinal scrutineers who will now count the papers. The first opens a a paper, reads it silently, makes a note of the name on it and passes it to the second scrutineer who does the same. The second scrutineer then passes the paper to the third who reads the name to the electoral college and then records the name. This continues until all the votes are counted. The total votes for each person is announced and if anyone has been awarded two thirds of the votes he is canonically elected Pope. Everytime a ballot has taken place and there is no result, the papers are taken to be burned, some chemicals are added which make the smoke black. If nobody has received the requisite amount of votes this procedure will be repeated and so on until a decision is reached. However, if nobody is voted Pope after three days, voting is temporarily suspended for prayer and for the cardinals to discuss things informally. After a further seven ballots again a break would take place for prayer and discussion. This situation would go on up until as many as thirty ballots had taken place. At this point the Cardinals will come to an agreement as to what should be done to come to a decision. Should it actually get to this point it would be sufficient for a cardinal to have a majority of votes rather than the two thirds majority originally required.

Now, the papers are burned on their own and a pall of white smoke rises above the Vatican, to announce to the world that we have a new Pope, the Holy See is no longer Sede Vacante.

The new Pope goes to a room in the Sistine Chapel where three white silk soutanes are waiting for him to try for size. He dons the ‘best fit’, white silk sash, lace rochet, red slippers and shoulder cape. He then puts on a stole and white zucchetto (skull cap). After being suitably attired His Holiness goes back into the Sistine Chapel and sits before the altar where each of the cardinals come to pay their respects to him. The Camerlengo puts the Gold fisherman’s ring onto his finger, and then the pope gives it back to him to haved his name engraved onto it. Te Deum is then sung, and he is now ready to go to the Balcony to be introduced to the world.

The senior Cardinal Deacon firstly goes onto the balcony and announces:

‘Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Papum! (Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum) …. (Cardinalem) N. qui sibi nomen imposuit …’.

This means:

‘I announce a great joy to you; we have a pope! The (most eminent and) most Reverend Lord… (Cardinal) .., who has taken the name…’

The Holy Father then imparts his fist apostolic blessing.

God bless

-- Sara (sara_catholic_forum@yahoo.co.uk), May 11, 2003

Answers

bump

-- Sara (sara_catholic_forum@yahoo.co.uk), May 11, 2003.

Thank you Sara, interesting and enlightening!

-- Leon (vol@weblink2000.net), May 11, 2003.

I found that very, very interesting indeed. Especialy with the sad news of our Holy Fathers passing.

I wondered away from the church for many years but now im returning.

-- Anonymous (holy@hotmail.com), October 01, 2003.

perhaps i have missed something in the news recently... what is this about the holy father passing?

-- paul (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), October 02, 2003.

You didn't miss anything, paul. The pope is alive, but frail, of course. There is more than the usual amount of rumor and speculation in the air just now. Nevertheless, he is proceeding with plans for the beatification of Mother Teresa later this month, etc..
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), October 02, 2003.