His election Papa to Vatican It is a major ecclesiastical and secular event, charged with historical gravity and worldwide, arousing the interest of political, religious leaders and millions of believers around the world.
Conclave is the secret assembly of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican, which is convened to elect the new Pope when the position is left blank, as it is now after the death by Pope Francis.
The word conclave comes from the Latin ‘cum clave»which means “with a key”, because traditionally the cardinals were “locked” in the iconic Sistina hats in the Vatican, cut off from the outside world, until they ended up in election.
The cardinals are 253, of which 138 are eligible for the rest as the rest are over 80 years. The process is done by secret ballot. To be elected a pope must secure 2/3 of the votes, that is, 92 votes.
Each vote is accompanied by the tobacco ritual: Black tobacco (burning ballots with special additives) means that there has been no election and white tobacco announces to the world that we have a new pope.
The strict secret process
Candidates must be men and baptized Catholics. And, although it is not an explicit requirement, almost every modifice was cardinal before being elected.
The cardinals secretly vote their candidate, writing his name on a paper and placing their vote on a chalice on the top of an altar in the center of the room. If none of the candidates receive the required votes, that is, 2/3 of the majority required, a second round of voting begins.
The first day of the Conclave begins with the special operation, After which the cardinals enter the Sistine hats chanting prayers and hymns, begging the Saints and the Holy Spirit to help them choose the Pope. Each cardinal places his hand in a book of the Gospels and promises “with the greatest possible faith” Never reveal the details of the Conquerment.
The Pontiff’s religious ceremonies during his term of office then shouts “Extra Omnes” – in Latin “everything out”. Everyone except the cardinals leave and the vote can begin.
There is excellent secrecy in the process. Cardinals can be concerned if information is leaked and the chapel is scanned for listening devices before and after the Conclave.
Only 138 of the 253 cardinals will be able to serve as electors in the next conclave and No cardinal over 80 can participate in the vote.
Each cardinal writes his choice on a paper with the Latin words “I elect as a supreme modifice.” They approach the Holy Bank one by one and say, “I call as my witness, Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to Him who, before God, I believe must be elected.”
The folded ballot paper is placed in a round hydria. The ballots are then opened one by one of three virals, who note the names and read them loud.
The cardinals can keep their own counting on a paper provided, but they must deliver their notes to burn at the end of the vote.
The auditors then add the votes and write the results on separate paper, which is kept in the papal files.
As the controller reads each name, he pierces each ballot paper with a needle through the word ‘output“(Latin for” I choose “), ties the ballots with a thread and ties a knot.
The ballots are then set aside and burned on the chapel stove with a chemist to produce white or black smoke-white when a new pope and black is elected when not elected.
How long does a conclave last
Only one vote is performed on the first day, and then up to four rounds of voting are allowed each day.
If no one is elected after three days, the vote is interrupted for up to one day. The vote continues, and if no pope is elected after another seven votes, the procedure is a new cessation, and so on until about 12 days of voting passes.
If no one is selected after 33 rounds, the Cardinals proceed to a repeat round of the first two candidates, according to a relatively new rule introduced by Pope Benedict. Unlike the previous rounds, these two candidates cannot vote.
The Conclaims used to last months, and the longest time recorded was for the choice of Gregory I in the 13th century, which lasted three years from November 1268 to September 1271 due to internal conflict and external intervention.
To prevent such chaos, Pope Gregory I established new rules that isolated the electors and locked them in – hence the term “Conclave”.
Except for some extreme cases, the process now tends to last just a few days or sometimes weeks. The conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013 lasted about 24 hours and took five ballots, but the process may last longer.
What happens as soon as the new Pope is elected
As soon as the Pope is elected, the manager returns to the chapel and the Rector of the Cardinal College – who directs the Conclave if under 80 years – asks: “Do you accept your election as a supreme Pontiff?”
Once the cardinal says’accept“, The dean asks: ‘By what name do you want to be addressed’ And with his answer, the new Pope announces his ecclesiastical name.
Then, the Rector of the Cardinals introduces the information to a formal document, white smoke comes out of the chimney of the Sistine Hat, and the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica are beating.
Then the new Pope changes his white razor and one by one the reddish cardinals are approaching to swear obedience.
The young Pope will stop and pray in the Paul chapel for a few minutes before he goes to the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. A cardinal that announces him on the balcony is on the balcony “We have a pope!”. (“Έχουμε πάπα!”) And then he presents him to the world in Latin.
Then the new Pontiff comes out on the balcony and speaks his first public words as a Pope.