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When a pope dies, the dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals notifies the cardinals and calls a meeting, always held in the morning, that must begin no more than 20 days after the pope’s death. The cardinals draw lots to select three members to collect ballots from the infirm, three tellers to count the votes and three others to review the results.
The closed room or hall specially set aside and prepared for the cardinals when electing a pope is known as the conclave. The assembly of the cardinals who meet for this purpose is also known as the conclave. The conclave takes place in the Capella Sistina. In previous elections, cardinals used to set up partitions as they were expected not to leave the conclave. This caused a great hardship on older cardinals, many of them aged over sixty. Pope John Paul II made changes to ensure the cardinals will be lodged in adequate rooms. On the other hand John Paul also forbade the use of mobile phones during the next conclave. “To avoid leaks, the new constitutions bans cardinals from using their mobile phones during the election. Cardinals will be committing a mortal sin if they use their mobile phones.”
Blank ballots are prepared and distributed. After writing the name of one man on his ballot, each of the approximately 120 active cardinals of those under 80 years of age, walks to an altar and pledges to perform his duty. He then places his ballot in a container, which is covered by a plate. After all votes are cast, the tellers tally the ballots and the result is read to the cardinals.
If there is no clear victor, another vote is taken. If there is still no winner, two more votes are scheduled for the afternoon.
After the votes are counted each time, the ballots are burned. If there is no winner, a chemical is mixed with the ballots to produce black smoke when they are burned. Sight of the black smoke emerging from the roof of the Vatican Palace tells those waiting in St. Peter’s Square that a pope has not yet been selected. When a winner is selected, the ballots are burned alone, and the white smoke indicates there is a new pope.
Traditionally, the winner had to garner two-thirds of the vote plus one, but John Paul II changed that in 1996. He ruled that if, after 12 or 13 days there is still no winner, the conclave could invoke a rule, by majority vote, that would permit the selection of the pope by an absolute majority.
Once there is a winner, the pope-elect is asked if he accepts the decision. If he does, the dean asks what name he chooses and announces it to the cardinals, who then come forward to offer congratulations.
The oldest cardinal then steps out on a balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square and says to the crowd, “Habemus papam” (We have a pope). He then introduces the pope, who steps out on the balcony to bless Rome and the world. Many popes have been formally installed with a coronation, but Pope John Paul II refused a coronation and was installed as pope during a Mass in St Peter’s Square.
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