How a New Pope Will Be Chosen to Replace Pope Benedict XVI

A new pope is elected by the College of Cardinals in Vatican City, who gather under Michelangelo's famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel under strict security measures. Only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote, which means 118 members are eligible to vote for Pope Benedict's successor.

This process is called a conclave and it will take place at the end of March to elect a new pope in place of Benedict XVI, who announced today he is stepping down.

The cardinals are totally cut off from the outside world during conclave as television, phones, newspapers and computers are all banned. The cardinals are housed in private rooms in the Santa Maria house until a new pope is elected.

Aside from the cardinals, about 70 other people are allowed in the Santa Maria house such as doctors, cooks and housekeepers.

Each voting cardinal writes the name of his choice for pope on a ballot and is asked to disguise his handwriting to avoid letting others know who is supporting whom.

If no one receives the required two-thirds-plus-one votes, additional ballots take place immediately. There can be only four ballots in a single day, and if after three days the cardinals still haven't selected anyone, the voting sessions can be suspended for a day of prayer and discussion.

Rules indicate that any unmarried Catholic male can be elected as the new pope. Though, for more than 1,000 years, it's almost always been a cardinal. It's not clear whether Pope Benedict will play any role in the proceedings.

In 1800, the balloting conclave lasted three and a half months, and in 1831, 54 days, but in modern times, conclaves usually last, at most, only a few days.

When the votes do finally tally up for one man, he is asked by the Dean of Cardinals if he will accept and if he does, he is asked by what name he wishes to be called.

After the cardinal deacon announces "Habemus Papam" to the crowds outside - Latin for "We have a pope." The new Pope appears and gives his first message to the world.

If no pope is chosen, the ballots are burned with chemical pellets to produce black smoke from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. If the cardinals elect a new pope, white puffs of smoke -- or fumata bianca in Italian -- are sent from the chimney.


Pope Benedict XVI Resigns: The Official Statement

The below is the official Vatican translation of what the Pope said today regarding his resignation.

Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church.

After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.

For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013 BENEDICTUS PP

This article originally appeared in : How a New Pope Will Be Chosen to Replace Pope Benedict XVI