As the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new spiritual leader, the centuries-old process of selecting a Pope begins.
The centuries-old process of electing a new Pope begins after the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88.
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and represents a direct line back to Jesus Christ, making him an important source of authority for the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Catholics.
The Pope is the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, serving as the bishop of Rome and the successor to Saint Peter.
The Pope's role is to provide guidance on matters of faith and morals, as well as to preside over important church events such as Easter and Christmas.
According to Catholic tradition, the Pope has the authority to interpret scripture and make decisions on doctrine.
There have been a total of 266 Popes in history, with the current Pope serving since 2013.
As the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope holds full power over the entire Catholic Church and serves as a living successor to ‘St Peter, one of Christ’s initial disciples.’ The Pope lives in Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world, surrounded by Rome. He does not receive a salary but all his travel costs and living expenses are paid for by the Vatican.
Pope Francis will be buried outside the Vatican for the first time in over a century. Instead of being placed on a raised platform in St Peter’s Basilica, his body will remain inside a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc, with the lid removed for mourners to pay their respects. This marks a change from previous pontiffs who were buried in elaborate coffins and catafalques.
The new Pope must be chosen by the Catholic Church’s most senior officials, known as the ‘College of Cardinals.’ There are currently 252 Catholic cardinals, with only 138 eligible to vote for the new Pope. The election is held in strict secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel, and individual cardinals vote until a winner is determined.
During the time between the Pope’s death and the election of his successor, the ‘College of Cardinals’ governs the Church. The conclave, or election process, can take several days to complete. The only clue about how the election is proceeding is the smoke that emerges from burning ballot papers twice a day.
After the white smoke signals the selection of a new Pope, he normally appears on the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square within an hour. The senior cardinal participating in the conclave will announce the decision with ‘Habemus Papam‘ – Latin for ‘we have a Pope.’
