The Sistine Chapel will welcome Cardinal members in the forthcoming week to start electing succession candidates on May 7 for the 267th pontifical position after nine days of mourning for Pope Francis.
During the fifth General Congregation meeting in Rome the religious community learned about the upcoming cardinal election process to select a new pope in the morning session. More than 100 voting members belong to the electoral group since they belong to the category of young prelates who are under the age of 80.
The Mass service for Pope selection begins religious ceremonies at Sistine Chapel while cardinals perform their ceremonial walk. Each voting member takes an official vow to preserve secret information during choosing the Pontiff while keeping themselves free from outside discourse.
Key aspects of the papal election process:
- For the election process to become effective two-thirds of participating cardinals must select the same candidate.
- The Sistine Chapel voting begins on day one after which voting occurs four more times within the day.
- Black smoke pouring out from the Sistine Chapel indicates that electors have not reached consensus on choosing a new Pope while white smoke from the same location announces the selection of a new Pontiff.
- Following his election victory to the top office the new Pontiff selects a personal papal name as per tradition.
- Through the words Habemus Papam the Proto-Deacon announces the selection of the new Pope.
