How a pope is chosen

The election of a pope follows a series of choreographed rules and rituals that have been tweaked over the centuries ever since the term ‘‘conclave’’ or ‘‘with a key’’ was used in the 13th century to describe the process of locking up the cardinals until they have chosen a new pope. Here are the rules in use to elect the 266th pope.

WHO VOTES?

Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible; in this case 115 men fit the bill and will vote. Two cardinals who were eligible stayed home: The emeritus archbishop of Jakarta, Cardinal Julius Darmaatjadja, who is ill, and Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who recused himself after admitting to inappropriate sexual behavior.

WHO VOTES?

The conclave’s first day begins with the ‘‘Pro eligendo Romano Pontificie’’ Mass for the election of a pope.

Pictured: Cardinals attended the religious mass ‘‘Pro eligendo Romano Pontificie’’ at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on 12 March.

WHO VOTES?

In the afternoon, cardinals gather in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace and file into the Sistine Chapel chanting the Litany of Saints and the Latin hymn ‘‘Veni Creator,’’ imploring saints and the Holy Spirit to help them pick a pope.

Pictured: Cardinals chanted the Latin hymn ‘‘Veni Creator’’ in the Sistine Chapel before the start of the conclave on March 12.

WHAT IS THE RITUAL?

Standing under Michelangelo’s ‘‘Creation’’ and before his ‘‘Last Judgment,’’ each cardinal pledges ‘‘with the greatest fidelity’’ never to reveal the details of the conclave. A meditation on the qualities needed for the next pope and the challenges ahead for the church is delivered by Maltese Cardinal Prosper Grech.

Pictured: A Cardinal swore on the Bible in the Sistine Chapel before the start of the conclave at the Vatican on March 12.

WHAT IS THE RITUAL?

The master of liturgical celebrations then cries ‘‘Extra omnes,’’ Latin for ‘‘all out.’’ Everyone except the cardinals leave and the voting can begin.

Pictured: The doors of the Sistine chapel were closed by Guido Marini at the start of a papal election on 12 March .

HOW DO THEY VOTE?

Each cardinal writes his choice on a paper inscribed with the words ‘‘Eligo in summen pontificem,’’ or ‘‘I elect as Supreme Pontiff.’’ They approach the altar one by one and say: ‘‘I call as my witness, Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.’’

HOW DO THEY VOTE?

The folded ballot is placed on a round plate and slid into an oval silver and gold urn. In the past, a single chalice was used to hold the ballots. But conclave changes made by Pope John Paul II in 1996 required three vessels: one for chapel ballots, another for ailing cardinals at the Vatican who can vote from their beds and the third to hold the ballots after counting. No cardinals are expected to require the bedside voting, but all three flying saucer-shaped urns were in the Sistine Chapel regardless.

Pictured: The urns in which Roman Catholic cardinals will cast their votes in the Sistine Chapel.

HOW DO THEY VOTE?

The ballots are then bound together with a needle and thread — each pierced through the word ‘‘Eligo’’ — and burned in the chapel stove along with a chemical to produce either black or white smoke. Up to four rounds of voting are allowed each day after the first day, and a two-thirds majority — 77 votes — is needed.

HOW DO THEY VOTE?

If no one is elected after three days — by Friday afternoon — voting pauses for up to one day. Voting resumes and if no pope is elected after another seven ballots, there is another pause, and so on until about 12 days of balloting have passed. Under norms introduced by Benedict XVI just before he resigned, the cardinals then go to a runoff of the top two vote-getters. A two-thirds majority is required; neither of the two top candidates casts a ballot in the runoff.

Pictured: Black smoke billowed from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on March 12.

WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE POPE IS ELECTED?

Once a cardinal has been elected pope, the master of liturgical ceremonies enters the Sistine Chapel and the senior cardinal asks ‘‘Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?’’ Assuming the cardinal says ‘‘I accept,’’ the senior cardinal then asks: ‘‘By what name do you wish to be called?’’ The master of liturgical ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini, then enters the information on a formal document.

Pictured: The stoves where the ballots are burned during the conclave, inside the Sistine Chapel.

WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE POPE IS ELECTED?

At this point, white smoke pours out of the Sistine Chapel chimney and the bells of St. Peter’s toll.

Pictured: White smoke vented up from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on April 19, 2005, after Pope Benedict XVI was chosen as pope.

WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE POPE IS ELECTED?

The new pope then changes into his papal white cassock, and one-by-one the cardinals approach him to swear their obedience.

Pictured: In the Room of Tears, a small room next to the Sistine Chapel (right), vestments await the next pope, in three different sizes, prior to the start of the conclave at the Vatican.

WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE POPE IS ELECTED?

In a change for this conclave, the new pope will stop and pray in the Pauline Chapel for a few minutes before emerging on the loggia of the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. Preceding him to the balcony is French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the protodeacon, who announces ‘‘Habemus Papam!’’ Latin for ‘‘We have a pope’’ and then introduces him to the world in Latin.
The new pope then emerges and delivers his first public words as pope.

Pictured: The red curtain on the central balcony, called the Loggia of the Blessings of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the new pope will appear after being elected in the conclave was seen at the Vatican on March 12.

FAMOUS FIRST WORDS?

Pope John Paul II charmed the crowd of thousands on Oct. 16, 1978, when he first emerged on the loggia, no easy task given his predecessor had only lived as pope for 33 days and Karol Wojtyla was the first non-Italian elected in 455 years.
Noting that he came from a far-away land — Poland — he told the crowd that he would speak in their (“our’’) language. ‘‘If I make a mistake, you will correct me,’’ he said to cheers.

FAMOUS FIRST WORDS?

Pope Benedict XVI offered a similarly modest gesture on April 19, 2005, telling the crowd he was but a simple ‘‘humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.’’