ROME, ITALY — Following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, after 12 years as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the centuries-old process of electing his successor is now underway.
What does the Pope do?
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church. Roman Catholics believe he represents a direct line back to Jesus Christ and is considered the living successor to St. Peter, the chief among Christ’s initial disciples, the Apostles.
This position grants him full and unhindered power over the entire Catholic Church, making him a significant source of authority for the world’s approximately 1.4 billion Catholics. While many Catholics consult the Bible for guidance, they also look to the teachings of the Pope, which govern the Church’s beliefs and practices.
About half of all Christians worldwide are Roman Catholics. Other denominations, including Protestants and Orthodox Christians, do not recognize the Pope’s authority. The Pope resides in Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world, surrounded by the Italian capital, Rome.
The Pope does not receive a salary; however, all his travel costs and living expenses are paid for by the Vatican.
What happens when the Pope dies?
A papal funeral has traditionally been an elaborate event, but Pope Francis recently approved plans to simplify the procedure. Previous pontiffs were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead, and oak. Pope Francis opted for a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc.
He also eliminated the tradition of placing the Pope’s body on a raised platform, known as a catafalque, in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. Instead, mourners will pay their respects while his body remains inside the coffin, with the lid removed.
Francis will also be the first Pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. He will be laid to rest in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of four major papal basilicas in Rome. A basilica is a church granted special significance and privileges by the Vatican, with major basilicas having a particular connection to the Pope.
Who chooses the new Pope?
The new Pope is chosen by the Catholic Church’s most senior officials, known as the College of Cardinals. These men are appointed directly by the Pope and are usually ordained bishops. Currently, there are 252 Catholic cardinals, with 138 eligible to vote for the new Pope. Those over 80 years old cannot participate in the election but can join the debate over the selection.
How is the Pope chosen and what is the conclave?
Upon the death (or rare resignation, as with Pope Benedict XVI in 2013) of the Pope, the cardinals are summoned to a meeting at the Vatican, followed by the conclave, the election process. During the period between the Pope’s death and the election of his successor, the College of Cardinals governs the Church.
The election is held in strict secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel, famously painted by Michelangelo. Individual cardinals vote for their preferred candidate until a winner is determined, a process that can take several days. In previous centuries, voting sometimes lasted weeks or months, and some cardinals even died during conclaves.
The only indication of the election’s progress is the smoke released twice daily from burning the cardinals’ ballot papers. Black smoke signals failure, while the traditional white smoke means a new Pope has been chosen.
How is the decision about the new Pope made public?
After the white smoke appears, the new Pope typically emerges within an hour on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. The senior cardinal participating in the conclave announces the decision with the Latin phrase “Habemus Papam,” meaning “we have a Pope.” He then introduces the new Pope by his chosen papal name, which may differ from his original name. For instance, Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio but selected a different name for his papacy in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
Who can become the Pope?
In theory, any baptized Roman Catholic man can be considered for election as Pope. However, in practice, the cardinals usually choose one of their own. When the Argentine-born Pope Francis was chosen in 2013, he became the first pontiff from South America, a region with roughly 28% of the world’s Catholics. However, historical precedent suggests that the cardinals are more likely to select a European, particularly an Italian. Of the 266 popes chosen to date, 217 have been from Italy.
