How Does the Public Know Who Was Elected Pope?
- The conclave is the sitting of the Cardinals who will elect the new Pope. Up to 120 of them can vote, with one becoming the new Pope. The process of the conclave is very secretive, with no member allowed to talk to the outside world about deliberations or voting. The conclave, which includes debating about who should be the next Pope and the voting itself, takes place in the Sistine Chapel inside Vatican City. In modern times, it is common for three or four of the Cardinals to be known by name as the favorites to become Pope.
- The election of the new Pope is a very democratic process. Each of the Cardinals has one vote. The name of each Cardinal's choice is written on a ballot paper and taken to the altar in the Sistine Chapel. The votes are counted by the Cardinal Camerlengo and his assistants. If a Cardinal wins 2/3 of the vote, he is elected Pope. There are two votes each morning and two each afternoon until somebody is elected.
- After each ballot, the voting slips are burned in the fireplace of the Chapel. If the smoke is black, then there is no winner. If the smoke is white, then a new Pope has been elected. Until this point, nobody outside of conclave knows who has been elected.
- After the Cardinal is officially sworn in as Pope, pledging obedience to the church, and the Cardinals have sworn allegiance to the new Pope, he is introduced to the crowds from a balcony in St Peter's Square by his papal name.