How does the Catholic Church select its new leader?

Unlock the editor’s digest in free

FT editor Raula Khalaf selected his favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.

With the death of Pope Francis, the death of their spiritual leader was confronted by the Catholics who brought humility and inclusion in the church.

But once the mourning is over, the attention will return to the papal conclave: the confidential Vatican gathering where the cardinales will choose Francis’ successor.

Although Papasi is often described as a monarchy without a dynasty, the so-called Cardinals-Charch will rule them on them and select the spiritual direction of the world’s 1.4BN Catholics.

How does Conclave work?

Cardinals are separated for the secret ballot of multiple rounds in the Vatican, prohibited from any oral or written contact with the outside world until the decision is made.

According to Toronto Archdosis, the votes are held in the Sistine Chapel, which flows for the bug in advance, then the lock is sealed and the cardinal is inside.

During each round, the selectors wrote their favorite candidate’s name on the paper slip and deposited them in a silver banana, declared “GOD in front of the show” that they voted for their conscience. Next, the results are read, potential contestants and their support for their support.

Voting continues until a person supports two-thirds of the selectors. After each round the ballot papers are burnt, if no decision is made, black smoke is emitted from the chimney, while white smoke indicates the next pope selection.

Divine Shik is attacked with prayer for knowledge to guide the choices of the selection and the vow of permanent privacy about the executive – although Francis Abnormally, lightly focuses on what happened in 2005 and 2013.

Who participates?

All 252 Catholic Cardinal Francis’ legacy and church’s contemporary challenges can be participated in primary suggestions on evaluating the contemporary challenges – a discussion that can heavily affect the vote. However, only cardinales under the age of 5 can be voted as a new pontif or elected.

Although Francis’s predecessor Pope Benedict declared that the number of selectors should be bound to 120, the busy speed of Francis’ appointment, with just 20 new voting age -old cardinal, with the Cardinal of the Church, has 136 qualified selectors.

In all, Francis appointed 5 percent of this group, whose composition reflects a global-changed make-up. Catholic Church Its historic tihasik decreases in the European Heartland while getting richer elsewhere.

According to The Holy Sea, there are only 1 European, and 20 from Asia, 5 from Africa, 20 from Central and South America and 1 from North America.

How many days will Conclave last?

In the Middle Ages, Popal Concles lasted a few weeks or even months because rival parties fought to install their choice in vacant seats. Later, the recent popes have been selected within a few days as a result of the decision -making.

Pope John Paul took eight rounds to be elected in 1971, and Pope Benedict was elected four rounds in 20 and Francis after five in 20.

However, Massimo Faggioli, a professor at the University of Villanova, said the conference would be even more complicated, focusing on the number of selectors and their geographical diversity, which could further strengthen the cell. “It would be very messy – they have a high number and they don’t know each other well,” he said.

Conclave will start after two to three weeks Francis’ deathCardinal has been given from around the world to travel to Rome.

If there is no decision after three days, voters break the voting one day before resting, praying, prayer and informal advice. After every seven failed rounds, the selectors break again. If a pope is not yet chosen after 33 rounds, the field is cut into the top two cardinal, with which two-thirds of the majority is needed to protect the sin.

Is there any favorite for work?

Success Francis His drunkenness, especially to include the Church, has attacked the Traditional Tihbahists, especially after his sinfulness.

Although there is no official nominee, the late Pope’s illness in recent months has highlighted on several potential descendants from Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia, whose theologian views are more liberal to arch-conservative.

Conclaves are notoriously unpredictable and early front-ranters can surpass the dark horses that gain support with voting progress.

Faggioli said, “The privacy of the vote win is not getting most of the vote on the first ballot – but the mileage may be able to collect along the side,” said Faggioli.

As a very popular Italian proverb, “Any Pope enters the pope that comes out of a cardinal”.