With the recent passing of our Holy Father Pope Francis, many might be wondering, how does the Church select the next Pope? Today, we’re diving into the process, with help from the resources provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (www.usccb.org).
First and foremost, the real answer is simple:
The Holy Spirit.
In the wake of the death of our beloved Pope Francis, we trust deeply that God will once again provide, calling forth a new servant to sit in Peter’s chair, a shepherd for His people.
So, how does this process unfold practically?
When a pope dies (or resigns), governance passes to the College of Cardinals. Their primary responsibility is to elect the next pope through general congregations and, ultimately, the papal election known as the conclave.
When it is time, eligible cardinals, those under the age of 80, process into the Sistine Chapel, take an oath of absolute secrecy, and the conclave begins. Four rounds of balloting occur every day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. If no one achieves it, the ballots are burned producing black smoke. When a cardinal does receive the necessary votes and accepts, the ballots are burned with chemicals that produce white smoke, letting the world know: We have a Pope! (“Habemus Papam!“)
We invite you to pray for the cardinals as they enter into this solemn time, joining us on Tabella in praying a special novena for the election of our next pope: listen here.
🙏 Come, Holy Spirit!
