We're Getting a Conclave

RIP Pope Francis. It is very sad, but now we get one of the most mysterious rituals of the Catholic Church: The Conclave.

Not to be confused with the 2024 Golden Globe winning movie, The Conclave, which is based on this exact process.

I am an Irish, Italian, Mexican that grew up in a Catholic household and went to Catholic schools for 12 years of my life. I don't consider myself a practicing Catholic anymore, but I do know a lot about the church and the practice. These conclaves have always intrigued me because of how secretive they are and how little they happen. I mean there have only been 2 in the 21st century.

For those that do not know, Catholics believe the Pope is the successor of St. Peter and is the head of the Catholic Church. The Papal Conclave is when Cardinals (senior member of the church) under the age of 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel and decide who the new Pope will be. While this is going on, the Cardinals stay secluded and cannot contact the outside world. They can last anywhere from a day to years (which did happen in the 13th century).

So how do they decide? Well, they vote. They vote twice a day, except for the first, until they have a 2/3 majority vote. They will also break every 3 days for prayer and reflection if they have not come to a majority vote.

Who do they choose from to become Pope? Technically, any baptized male can become Pope, but for it has always been a Cardinal that is chosen.

How do we know when they have finally come to a majority vote? They use the fireplace and chimney in the Sistine Chapel to let the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square and the rest of the world know by burning the ballots and either adding something to make the smoke black or white. If the smoke comes out black, then the Cardinal have not come to a decision. If the smoke comes out white, it means that they have come to a majority decision and have elected a new Pope.

Once, they have officially decided, the new Pope will appear on the Cental Balcony of St. Peter's Basilica overlooking the square, greets the crowd, and delivers a blessing. A few days later, he will perform a Mass to celebrate the beginning of his ministry.