What is a conclave and how is a new pope decided?
The death of a pope traditionally triggers nine days of official mourning known as the 'novendiale', but after that it's time to decide on his successor – it's time for a conclave.
The process of electing a new pope has always been shrouded in secrecy, but thanks to some research (and a cleverly marketed Oscar-nominated feature film) we do know a fair bit about how the next Holy Father is decided. Read on for everything you need to know about the conclave.
What is a conclave?
It's the gathering of the College of Cardinals to elect the new Bishop of Rome – a.k.a., the Pope. Senior members of the Catholic Church (who are under the age of 80) gather from their accommodation at Casa Santa Marta to attend rounds of votes in the Sistine Chapel, handing in their phones, swearing an oath of secrecy and having no contact with the outside world for its duration.
Three of the last five Popes have been elected on day two of the conclave (which is what we're on now), but their length has varied enormously throughout the centuries. In fact, a conclave in the thirteenth century lasted a staggering two years and nine months following the death of Pope Clement IV.
How is a new pope decided?
So, what actually happens? Well, the Dean of the College of Cardinals will say 'extra omnes' which means 'everyone out'. There are no speeches, no debates – the men sit and vote. The first took place on Wednesday afternoon, and after that four are scheduled each day until one Cardinal receives a two-thirds majority. This year, according to the Guardian, there are 133 Cardinals voting.
If a vote results in no conclusive winner, all the papers are burned in a stove with a chemical to produce black smoke. This billows out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, and signifies to the world that the conclave will continue. Once there is a winner, and he has accepted his new role as the 'supreme pontiff', the smoke produced is white.
The new Pope is then taken to the Room of Tears to change into a cassock (various gown sizes are made to ensure all outcomes are covered – literally) before heading to St Peter's Basilica's main balcony.
Confused? The recent Oscar-nominated feature film Conclave reportedly does a pretty good job at replicating everything we know about the process. It's so accurate, in fact, that cardinals have reportedly been watching in prep for this conclave.
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At the time of writing, three votes have taken place and resulted in black smoke billowing from the Vatican's chimney – which means no decision has been made. You can read about all the contenders in detail here.
How to watch the conclave live
If you're so gripped with the Vatican drama that you can't bear to tear your eyes away, there's a livestream available on YouTube, courtesy of the Associated Press.
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