The selection of a new Pope is a centuries-old tradition that involves a complex process of deliberation and voting by the College of Cardinals. When a Pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals gathers in Rome to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church. Here's a look at how the process works.
The process begins with the death or resignation of the previous Pope, after which the College of Cardinals is summoned to Rome for the conclave. The cardinals are required to take an oath of secrecy and are isolated from the outside world during the conclave.
During the conclave, the cardinals participate in a series of votes, with each cardinal writing the name of the candidate they wish to elect on a ballot paper. The ballots are then collected and counted, with a two-thirds majority required for a candidate to be elected as the new Pope.
To ensure the integrity of the process, the ballots are burned after each round of voting, producing different colors of smoke depending on the outcome. Black smoke indicates that no candidate has received the required majority, while white smoke signals the successful election of a new Pope.
Once a new Pope is elected, he is asked to choose a papal name and is then introduced to the world from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The new Pope will then be crowned in a ceremony marking the beginning of his papacy.
The selection of a new Pope is a significant event that can shape the future direction of the Catholic Church. The process is steeped in tradition and requires careful deliberation and prayer by the College of Cardinals.
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