How to choose the new Pope. The rules after which the conclave has been operating for hundreds of years

Pope Francis's funerals, which died on Monday, on the second Easter day, at the age of 88, will take place on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00. The conclave for choosing the new Pope could start, on the other hand, between May 5 and 10. Below, all the rites and rules that accompany this crucial event for the Catholic Church.

Dinner

Tradition says that all the cardinal voters will be transferred to the “Santa Marta” house, where they will meet to take dinner together.

job

The next morning, Dean Giovanni Re will probably perform the “Pro Eligendo Papa” job, open to all believers.

procession

In the afternoon, the cardinal voters will go in procession to the Sistine chapel, invoking the help of the Holy Spirit with the song “Come Creator”.

“Extra omnes”

At the end of the oath, the master of the liturgical celebrations proclaimed “Extra omnes”, “all outside”: only the voters remain in the Sistine Chapel. Cardinals may decide to organize a vote immediately.

Prayer

Every day, the cardinals want the famous liturgy and then transfer to the Sistine Chapel, where at 9:00 they will recite praises.

vote

Cardinals will vote twice in the morning (immediately after praises) and twice in the afternoon (at 4:00 pm). Only cardinals under the age of 80 can enter the conclave to vote, while any baptized man who is celibate according to canonical law, that is, who is not married, can be chosen Pope.

Vespers

Every day after the second afternoon vote, voters will recite Vecernia

fumes

At every two pollves, the ballots and any tickets left by the voters are burned in a stove inside the Sixtine chapel. The smoke comes out of a basket on the roof: a “smoke” could appear around 12:00, one at 19:00. If the first vote had a positive result, making the second round useless, the schedule would be anticipated.

bells

Once the elections have taken place, white smoke will come out of the Horn and at the same time the six bells of the basilica “St. Peter” will sound as a holiday. The festive bells have always marked the arrival of the new Pope.

The “Tear's Chamber”

In the sacristy of the Sixtine chapel, a room with the vestments of the new Pontifical Sovereign is prepared. Once chosen, the Pope arrives, through a small door on the apidal wall of the Sixtine chapel, in the “Tear Room”, so because it is the place where the chosen expresses the emotion that it has retained until that moment.

Voting procedure

The last cardinal Diacon sorts three cardinals counting the votes, three reviewers and three cardinals that inform (to tighten the ballots if the sick voters are forced to stay in their room);

The masters of ceremonies deliver at least two or three ballots in white each voter, then leave the Sistine Chapel;

Each cardinal completes the secret ballot, writing “clearly, read, the name of the person he chooses”

It folds the ballot in half and, holding it lifted and visibly, goes to the altar, next to which the votes are counting;

Cardinal swears: “I witness Christ the Lord, who will judge me, to confess that my vote is given to the one who, after God, I think must be chosen.” He places the ballot on a plate and makes him slip into a glass, used as a ballot box. Tilts before the altar and returns to his place;

At the end of the vote, the first scrutinator shakes the ballot box a few times to mix the ballots, and the third scrutinator transfers the bulletins, one by one, to another cup. If the number of ballots corresponds to the total number of voters, the count is continued;

The scrutators are at a table in front of the altar. The first opens a ballot and reads the name; The second repeat the procedure. The third scrutinator notes the name and reads it out loud, then pierces the books with a needle corresponding to the word “Eligo” and connects them all with a thread.

The three reviewers twice check the ballot, annotations and the amounts. The chamber collects the notes and draws up a report with the result. All documents are burned in the stove, with a chemical additive to change the color of “smoke”.