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.
Basically the process will involve 5 steps:
1) Roman Catholic Electing Cardinals Make their way to Rome upon the death of Pope John Paul II
2) A Secret Conclave is held
3) A Special series of Voting Rituals will be carried out
4) A decision will be agreed between the Cardinals
5) The new Pope will be announced to the Roman Catholic people and the world
1) Cardinals go to Rome
The “College of Cardinals” will gather in Rome upon the death of the Pope, and a closed-door meeting will take place in a ritual named the ‘Conclave’.
The secret Conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel, and here they will be able to vote in a top secret environment.
However, the Conclave will not commence until between 15-20 days have elapsed since the Pope’s death. Traditionally this period was put in place to allow Cardinals to be summoned and give them time to make their long journeys to Italy’s capital city. Although the reasoning behind this time lapse has been made inept by the advances in modern-day travel, the tradition is still respected and heeded to.
The funeral rites are celebrated for nine days with a funeral occurring 4-6 days after the announcement of the death. At this time the Cardinals will take charge of the day to day running of the Vatican, and the vital Cardinal at this stage will be the ‘Camerlengo’ otherwise known as the ‘Chamberlain’, who will supervise and oversee all the work.
Prior to the funeral it is often usual for the Cardinals to discreetly discus the merits and values of the likely candidates. In addition the Cardinals do not have to elect from their own number but can also elect from any baptised male Catholic.
2) Secret Conclave
Uniquely the Cardinals are then shut into the Vatican until an agreement is reached – the word conclave literally indicates they are locked up "with a key".
The election process usually lasts a number of days, and previously it has even lasted weeks or even months, and some Cardinals in the past have actually died during the Conclave stage of the process. In one historic case it took just under three years for the decision to be made.
Absolute secrecy of the voting process is vital, and anyone who breaks this imposed silence may be excommunicated.
Security experts will check the entire Sistine chapel for microphones or hidden recording equipment prior to the conclave being held.
Once the process of the Conclave begins no contact is allowed with the outside world barring emergency medical assistance. Those allowed into the Conclave with the Cardinals are 2 doctors, and priests to hear confessions and the housekeeping staff. All who swear an oath promising to retain absolute secrecy regarding the events in the Conclave.
