MOSCOW, March 12 – RIA Novosti, Viktor Khrul. To elect the Pope, a conclave is convened in the Vatican - a meeting of cardinals, members of the Sacred College. The conclave must begin no later than 20 days after the death or abdication of the Bishop of Rome. During the conclave, cardinals cannot receive correspondence, use the telephone or other means of communication.
On the day the conclave begins, after the mass, the cardinals, dressed in red cassocks and capes, in white komzhi (liturgical vestments), gather in the Hall of Blessings of the Apostolic Palace and, in a procession with the cross and the Gospel, go to the Sistine Chapel with the singing of the Litany of All Saints. Upon arrival at the chapel, the cardinals pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit, sing the hymn Veni Creator, and then take the oath. Employees of the Holy See Press Center and journalists may be allowed into the Sistine Chapel to cover these moments.
After the electors have taken the oath of office, the chief master of ceremonies pronounces the formula Extra omnes, and everyone who does not have the right to participate in the election of the pontiff leaves the chapel.
During voting, only electors can remain in the chapel, so immediately after the ballots are distributed, the masters of ceremonies must leave, one of the cardinal deacons locks the door behind them.
The only acceptable form of voting is secret voting by ballot. The elections are considered valid if two-thirds of the votes are cast for one of the candidates. If the number of electors participating in the conclave is not a multiple of three, two-thirds of the vote plus one is required to elect a new pontiff.
On the day the conclave begins, one round of voting takes place. If the pope is not elected on the first day, the following days will have two rounds of voting in the morning and two in the evening.
The voting procedure, according to the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, takes place in three stages.
At the first stage (Prescrutinium), preparation, distribution of ballots and drawing of lots take place, during which three scrutators (scrutatori), three infirmarii (infirmarii) and three auditors are selected from among the cardinals.
The scrutators, standing at the altar, monitor compliance with the procedure for submitting ballots and count the votes. If any of the cardinals is unable to approach the altar for health reasons, one of the scrutators must take his carefully folded ballot and place it in the ballot box.
The infirmaria are required to collect the votes of cardinals who have arrived in the Vatican, but for health reasons cannot currently take part in the vote in the Sistine Chapel.
Before the infirmarii leave, the scrutators carefully check the urn, lock it and place the key on the altar. Infirmaries deliver a closed ballot box to sick electors. The sick cardinal must vote alone and can only call the infirmaries after he has cast his ballot in the ballot box. If the patient is unable to fill out the ballot on his own, one of the imfirmarii (or another cardinal elector), at the patient’s discretion, having sworn before the infirmarii that he will keep everything secret, votes at the direction of the patient. The infirmaria return the urn to the Sistine Chapel, where it will be opened by the scrutators after the end of the voting in the chapel. After the recount, the ballots removed from it are lowered to the ballots cast by healthy cardinals.
The ballot papers are a rectangular card, at the top of which the words: Eligo in Summum Pontificem (I choose as Supreme Pontiff) are written or printed, and at the bottom there is a space left where the name will be written.
Each cardinal elector must fill out a ballot in person. Ballots containing two or more names are considered invalid.
The second stage of voting (Scrutinium) involves the submission of ballots, their extraction and sorting. Each cardinal elector, according to seniority (according to the term of service in the rank), having filled out and folded his ballot, raising his hand high so that the ballot is visible to others, goes to the altar on which the ballot box stands. Then he loudly pronounces the oath: “I call the Lord Christ as a Witness, and let Him judge me that my vote was cast for the one whom I consider to be chosen by the will of God.” After this, the elector places the ballot in the ballot box and returns to his place.
When all the cardinal electors have voted, the first scrutator shakes the ballot box several times to mix up the ballots, then the second one transfers them one by one to another ballot box, carefully counting them. If the number of ballots does not match the number of voters, the ballots are burned and a repeat vote begins.
At a table placed in front of the altar, the scrutators sort the ballots. The first of them unfolds the ballot and reads the name of the candidate to himself, then passes it to the second, who also reads the name indicated on it to himself, the third skrutator says the name out loud, loudly and clearly, and writes down the name of the candidate. He also pierces the ballots where the word eligo (I choose) is printed and strings them on a thread - this eliminates the possibility of repeated counting of the same ballot. After sorting the ballots, the skrutators tie the ends of the resulting “garland.” All results are recorded.
At the third stage of voting (Post-scrutinium), votes are counted and verified, as well as ballots are burned. The scrutators add up all the votes received by each candidate. If no one receives two-thirds of the votes, the election is declared invalid. Whether a pontiff has been elected or not, the cardinal auditors are obliged to carefully examine the ballots and records of the scrutators. After verification, the skrutators burn all the ballots in a special cast-iron oven.
If a second round of voting immediately follows, the ritual is completely repeated (with the exception of re-taking the solemn oath and electing scrutators, infirmaries and auditors). Ballots from the first round remain until the next results are tabulated and are burned along with ballots from subsequent rounds.
When ballots are burned with the help of special additives, the smoke is colored black or white, where the latter means a successful choice.
If within three days no candidate receives two-thirds of the vote, the election is suspended for a day during which the cardinals spend time in prayer and listening to spiritual guidance from the oldest cardinal deacon. If, after the resumption, seven more rounds of voting are unsuccessful, the elections are again suspended and spiritual exercises are held with the guidance of the oldest cardinal presbyter. In the event of a third repetition of this situation, the electors are admonished by the oldest cardinal bishop. After this, seven more rounds of voting are possible. If a positive result is not achieved again, an additional round is held, during which the person with the most votes wins.
As soon as the canonical election of a new pontiff has taken place, the youngest of the cardinal deacons calls the secretary of the college, the chief master of ceremonies, into the chapel. The cardinal dean or the oldest cardinal bishop, on behalf of the entire electoral college, asks the elect: “Do you accept your canonical election as Pontiff Supreme?” Having received an affirmative answer, he asks the second question: “What do you want to be called?” Then the Chief Papal Master of Ceremonies, with the help of a notary and in the presence of two assistant masters of ceremonies, draws up a document on the election of the new pontiff and on the name he has chosen for himself.
If elected candidate has the episcopal rank, he immediately after his consent becomes "Bishop of the Roman Church, true Pope and Head of the College of Bishops; receives full and supreme power over the universal Church." If a cardinal is elected pope who has not been ordained a bishop, his consecration must be performed by the dean of the College of Cardinals or (in his absence) the vice-dean, or the most senior of the cardinals.
The cardinal electors promise respect and obedience to the new pontiff, then offer thanks to God, after which the first cardinal deacon announces to the people the name of the new Bishop of Rome. According to tradition, the name received at baptism is announced in Latin first, and then the new name of the pope. Following the announcement, the newly elected pontiff gives the Apostolic Blessing Urbi et Orbi from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
The conclave ends immediately after the newly elected Pope agrees with the results of the vote.
After the solemn ceremony of the inauguration of the pontificate, the pope takes possession of the patriarchal Lateran Basilica.
(The information was prepared based on materials from the Russian Catholic newspaper "Light of the Gospel" and other open sources).
At different periods in the history of the Catholic Church, the process of electing a new pontiff was different. Today is the election of the head of the Roman catholic church governed by the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, adopted on February 22, 1996.
According to church law, the pontiff cannot choose his own successor. According to legend, the holy Apostle Peter elected 24 priests and deacons to help him in the management of the Roman Church. These councilors were charged with choosing a successor to St. Peter. Church historians and canon law experts believe that in the first centuries the procedure for electing a new bishop of Rome was no different from the procedure for electing other bishops - the new Pope was chosen by the clergy and believers of the city.
The principle of election of the pontiff has always been observed in the Roman Church. Saint Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, said that the bishops of the Roman province, the clergy and the people took part in the election of Pope Cornelius (251-253). Already in those days, the newly elected bishop of Rome informed the bishop of Carthage about his election to the Roman throne.
Starting from the 4th century, in accordance with the practice of electing bishops that developed after the Council of Nicaea (325), the election of the pope became the concern primarily of the clergy, who secured the consent of the people and the nobility. The candidate had to go through all the hierarchical levels and, as a rule, was an archdeacon - this title was more related to the administrative management of the Roman Church. Typically, a new pope was elected three days after the death of the previous one (although there were many exceptions to this rule). The newly elected pope had to ask the emperor for orders (iusio or praeceptio) for his consecration, and also pay a very significant tax to the imperial office. In addition, he had to seek confirmation from the Exarch of Ravenna.
In 684, heeding the request of Benedict II (684-685), Emperor Constantine IV announced: there is no need to wait for the approval of the newly elected pontiff by the emperor, it is enough to simply inform him. The end of the formal dependence of Rome was put by the iconoclastic heresy that struck Byzantium in the middle of the 8th century: Pope Zechariah (741-752) after his election did not send news to Constantinople.
The Synod of Rome in 769 barred the path to the papacy for all who did not hold the title of cardinal - presbyter or deacon - while the pope was elected by all clergy and especially important persons. Lay participation in elections was prohibited, but after his election the pontiff must receive recognition from the laity. This decree caused discontent among influential laity, and Pope Nicholas I the Great (858-867) at a synod in Rome in 862 restored the elective rights of the laity.
In 1059, Pope Nicholas II limited the number of electors to cardinal bishops, who were joined by other cardinals who had holy orders. The rest of the clergy and people were convened in order to approve the choice made.
The German emperors tried to arrogate to themselves the privilege of confirming the candidacy of the newly elected pontiff, referring to the agreement concluded by Pope Adrian I and Charlemagne. The rulers of the Holy Roman Empire repeatedly intervened in the election of popes.
The X Ecumenical Council in 1139 transferred the right to choose the pope exclusively to the cardinals, and the III Lateran Council in 1179, which was held during the pontificate Alexandra III(1159-1181), established a rule according to which the new pope becomes the one for whom at least two-thirds of the votes of the cardinals present are cast. The decree did not say what to do if it was not possible to gather a majority of votes.
A difficult situation arose after the death of Pope Clement IV (1265-1268), when the Holy See remained vacant for two years and nine months. To prevent this from happening again in the future, Pope Gregory X (1271-1276), with the constitution Ubi periculum majus (1274), promulgated at the Second Council of Lyon, established the procedure for electing the pontiff, which has remained with minor changes to this day. According to the constitution Ubi periculum majus, the cardinals must, ten days after the death of the pontiff, assemble in the palace where he rested, or, if this is not possible (for example, the pope died while traveling), in the bishop's palace in the nearest city, where in complete isolation from influences the outside world had to elect a new pope. The hall in which the voting took place must be locked.
Under threat of excommunication, the cardinals could not convey either an oral or written message “to the world.” Food was served through the window. If the cardinals did not make a decision in three days, the daily ration was cut. After another five days, the electors had to make do with bread, water and wine. If any of the cardinals refused to participate in the elections or valid reasons forced him to leave the conclave hall, the elections took place without him (this rule did not apply if the elector fell ill - if he recovered, he could continue to participate in the conclave). City authorities were obliged to monitor the implementation of these regulations.
Since the 13th century, the word “conclave” (from the Latin conclave - locked room) has taken root in church usage - a meeting of the College of Cardinals at which a new Pope is elected. During the conclave, the cardinal electors are literally closed from the outside world: according to tradition, the meeting takes place in the Sistine Chapel, the doors of which are locked.
The details of the conclave are carefully set out in the documents of Pope Gregory XV (1621-1623). Pope Pius IX in 1871 allowed cardinals to decide by majority vote whether to hold a conclave behind bars. Pius IX in 1878 established regulations that must be observed during the period of sede vacante, when the Apostolic See is vacant.
In the 20th century, pontiffs also repeatedly clarified the norms that must be observed during the period of sede vacante. Pope Paul VI in 1975 introduced an age limit for electors (80 years), confirmed that elections should only take place in the Apostolic Palace of Rome, and limited the number of electors to 120 people.
Modern rules regulate the start of the Conclave no earlier than 15 days later, in order to give all cardinals time to arrive in Rome, and no later than 20 days from the beginning of the sede vacante period. The Sistine Chapel, where the conclave is taking place, will be sealed and checked for secret devices capable of espionage. Throughout the Conclave, Cardinals will be required to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae ("House of St. Martha"), a building in the Vatican located near St. Peter's Basilica.
The conclave begins with the Pro Eligendo Papa Mass, a special Mass during which the hierarchs will invoke God's help in electing a new Pope. After this, they will go to the Sistine Chapel, where they will take an oath not to reveal the secrets of the conclave and to prevent outsiders from interfering in the election process. Then voting will begin.
There is no formal list of candidates. The ballot paper is an ordinary sheet of paper with the phrase “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (“I choose as Supreme Pontiff”) printed on it. On the blank part of the ballot, the elector must write the name of the candidate for whom he is casting a vote. The only requirement for cardinals filling out ballots is that they must write the name of the candidate in such a way that they cannot be identified by their handwriting.
There are no restrictions on the choice of candidate. The elector has the right to enter the name of any practicing Catholic known to him, even those without rank. However, this is only in theory. The last non-cardinal elected to the Holy See was Pope Urban VI (1378)
An election can end at any time when, after the votes have been counted, one candidate receives two-thirds of the electoral votes. If this does not happen, a re-vote is held. If this does not produce a result, the ballots are collected and burned. Wet grass is added to the fire so that the smoke from the ballots turns black. Two ovens are installed in the chapel - one for burning intermediate voting ballots and the second for final voting ballots.
If after 13 days a new pope has not been elected, the cardinals can vote to limit the number of candidates to two - those who took the first two places in the final round of voting. As soon as one of the cardinals receives two-thirds of the votes, the second oldest member of the College of Cardinals goes to the chosen one and tells him: “According to the procedure of the Code of Canon Law, you have been elected as the new head of the See of St. Peter. Do you accept the canonical choice of you as Supreme Pontiff?” The elected cardinal answers, accepts the election (accepto), or does not accept (non accepto). If the elected cardinal utters the word accepto (“agree” in Italian), he becomes the new Pope.
The decisive ballots are then burned along with the dry straw. The white color of the smoke over the Sistine Chapel is a signal that the pope has been elected. Following this, the traditional phrase “Habemus papam” (“We have a pope”) is pronounced from the balcony of the papal palace, the name of the new pontiff is announced, and the newly elected pontiff himself gives an apostolic blessing to the city and the world.
The current conclave to elect a new pope will open on March 12. For the first time, the conclave will not be dominated by Italians - they will be counterbalanced by Latin Americans, who represent the continent where almost half of the world's Catholics live.
Based on materials:
1. Encyclopedia "Around the World".
2. St. Cyprian of Carthage.
3. Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.
4. Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, D. P. Ogitsky. Western Christianity: a view from the East.
The procedure for electing the Pope was not always the same as we know it today. For the first time in three centuries of Christianity, popes were elected by the clergy and the people. Then the kings assumed the right to appoint the Roman high priest. Thus, in 453, Odoacer decided that the bishop of Rome should be elevated to this rank only with royal consent. Theodoric, at the end of his reign, personally appointed the Roman high priests. The Byzantine emperors also considered it their right to appoint popes. They overthrew them and tried them, and charged a fee to approve the elections. The popes tried to preserve the independence of elections. Therefore, a decree was issued ordering that the pope himself appoint a successor. The decree was canceled, but thereby the state intervention was given the character of violence.
In the 10th century, elections to the throne of St. Peter depended on the Roman nobility; they proceeded violently and often lasted for weeks, or even months. The candidates were supported by kings, feudal lords, and bankers. The Church fought with all its might against enslavement by the Roman nobility and German kings. In the mid-11th century, shortly after the split of Christianity into Western and Eastern, Pope Nicholas II destroyed the last vestiges of the democratic structure of the church. The Lateran Council established the procedure for electing the pope. Now the pope was elected by the cardinals who made up the diocesan chapter of the Roman episcopal church - a total of 46 cardinals of the Roman churches. Elections could also take place outside of Rome, and it was possible to elect to the papal throne not only a person who did not belong to the Roman diocese, but also any Catholic, regardless of nationality. However, until the end of the 12th century, German emperors retained the right to confirm popes.
The final approval of the current procedure for electing the Roman high priest was preceded by a curious incident. In the 13th century, the cardinals could not agree on the election of a new pope for 2 years and 9 months. The behavior of the cardinals outraged the believers, and they locked them in the palace, warning that they would remain there until a new pope was elected. (Hence the word “conclave”). The cardinals continued to argue and bicker. Then the believers tore off the roof of the building and forced their Eminences to eat bread and water, and it was winter. The cold soon forced the cardinals to come to an agreement. Thus Pope Gregory the Tenth was elected.
It was Gregory the Tenth, at the Council of Lyon in 1374, who approved the procedure for electing popes during a conclave, which has remained virtually unchanged to this day. The conclave should be convened on the 10th day after the death of the pope. During these 10 days the church observes mourning. The Pope must be buried in the city in which he died. The conclave participants gather at the residence of the late pope. Each cardinal is assigned only one of the cells prepared for them. Moreover, the walls of the cells are made of woolen fabric, so that every word spoken in one cell is heard in the next one. If within 3 days the cardinals do not elect a pope, then the number of dishes is reduced to one for the next 5 days. If after this period a pope is still not elected, then the cardinals remain on bread and water until the election of the holy father. The task of the conclave is only to elect a pope; he is not authorized to resolve any other issues.
During the period between the death of the pope and the election of his successor, called sede vacante, that is, “unoccupied throne,” all activities of the Roman Curia are suspended, the chambers of the deceased are sealed, and the treasury is transferred for safekeeping to the chairman of the cardinal’s college, the camerlengo. All cardinals have the right to participate in the conclave, even those who were previously excommunicated. Any cardinal or any other person can be elected pope, that is, theoretically, not only a cardinal or priest, but also a layman can become a pope. Participants in the conclave are prohibited from making promises, undertaking obligations, or entering into alliances in order to gain support for a particular candidacy.
Since the 15th century, by order of Pope Calixtus III, the conclave has been held in the Vatican, in the left wing of the Apostolic Palace, where the famous Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, is located. Each cardinal has the right to take with him to the conclave two assistants - one cleric and one layman, as well as a doctor and medical staff, if necessary. In addition, in the chambers where the conclave takes place, there are several dozen service personnel - cooks, waiters, etc. Thus, in total there are about 300 people in the chambers.
When all the participants in the conclave are assembled, the camerlengo walks around the room shouting “Extra omnes,” that is, “I ask outsiders to leave,” after which the room is walled up. It is strictly forbidden to transmit any information “to the public” in writing, orally or by signs. Communication with the outside world is carried out only through a device in the form of a wooden circle with cells, designed so that people on both sides cannot see each other. Through this device, fresh food, vegetables and necessary medicines are delivered to the premises every morning. It is prohibited to transfer newspapers. In addition, conclave participants are prohibited from having radios, tape recorders, radio transmitters, televisions, film and photographic equipment. Violation is punishable by excommunication.
In the Sistine Chapel, thrones are installed for the conclave participants - chairs upholstered in red velvet. In front of each of them is a table with a purple blanket. Violet canopies are fixed above the chairs, which are lowered after the election of the pope: the canopy remains unlowered only above the chair of the newly elected pope. In front of the altar of the chapel is a table covered with a green blanket, on which stands a golden cup that serves as a ballot box. There is also a cast iron stove for burning ballots. A ballot is a strip of thick paper with a folded edge; on the covered part there is the name and coat of arms of the voting cardinal and the date. In modern times, a majority of 2/3 plus 1 vote is required to elect a pope. The votes are counted by a special counting commission.
There are 2 rounds of voting every day - in the morning and in the evening. After each vote, the ballots are burned in an oven in the presence of the cardinals. If none of the cardinals received the required majority of votes, then damp straw and tow are placed on the burning ballots, and then black smoke pours out of the chimney - a signal to the journalists and believers gathered in the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica that the pope has not yet been elected. After a successful vote, the ballots are burned along with dry white straw stored in special bottles, and then white smoke pours out of the chimney, signaling the election of a new head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The candidate for the papal throne who receives the majority of votes must show modesty, prostrate himself before the cardinals, assure them that the choice fell on an unworthy person and refuse such a high honor. After the camerlengo reports the name of the elected pope, he asks him: “Do you agree with your election to the position of Supreme Pontiff?” As a rule, the elected one agrees. Then the camerlengo asks what name he wants to be called.
Changing the name after election became a custom in the Middle Ages, when one bishop was chosen as pope, whose name sounded very indecent. Dad can choose any name for himself, but, as a rule, last centuries they resort only to names already used by popes, choosing from them one that symbolizes a certain course that the new pontiff intends to adhere to. Only one name, Peter, which belonged to the apostle and first pope, is not repeated in the papal register. It is believed that the pope who dares to take this name for himself will be the last.
Then the ceremony of vesting the new pontiff in papal robes and an act of worship - adoration, is performed, when the cardinals take turns approaching the new pope, touching his foot, the ring with the image of a fish (the symbol of the first Christians) and the lips. Then all the cardinals, together with the pope, go out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Cathedral, from which the camerlengo announces: “Nuntio vobis gaudium magnum - habemus Papam!” (that is, “I tell you great joy - we have a pope!”), calls his name and introduces to the people. And the pope performs the blessing “Urbi et Orbi” - “the city and the world.” The pope then dons the miter and receives congratulations in the Sistine Chapel, after which the solemn procession heads to St. Peter's Basilica, with the pope being carried to a seat under a large canopy. From the main altar of the cathedral he takes another act of worship in the presence of foreign ambassadors. A few days after this, a solemn dedication (Consecratio) and the official coronation of the new pope are held. From this time he begins the countdown of his tenure at the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope Paul VI changed some of the rules for electing a pontiff. Only cardinals can now elect the pope; the number of conclave participants should not exceed 120 people; if on the third day a pope has still not been elected, the cardinals must spend one day in prayer, and the participants are allowed to communicate with each other on this day. In addition, Paul the Sixth also developed a criterion that should guide the cardinals when electing the Pope: “Having their thoughts only for the glory of God and the good of the church, they (the cardinals), with God’s help, will give their votes to the one who, in their opinion, is more than others, is capable of ruling the universal church fruitfully and profitably.”
It is unlikely that you have asked yourself why the Pope lives in the Vatican, why he wears this or that type of clothing to various events. We will tell you everything that is currently known about this mysterious figure. We will also answer the question of how people are chosen in the Vatican. Smoke has a lot to do with this. But first things first.
It is the smallest independent state in the world. It bears such a pompous title as an auxiliary sovereign territory of the Holy See. It is located on the territory of the Italian capital, but is not surrounded by borders with strict customs officers. Anyone can enter the Vatican. You do not need to open a visa for this.
St. Peter's Square and Cathedral and several streets - that's the entire territory of this small state. However, the Vatican has its own government, army, and as official language Latin is used.
It is logical to assume that the cathedral is the most large structure throughout the Vatican. It is located on the square of the same name. Raphael, Michelangelo and other world-famous architects and artists worked on its creation. From the fountains it flows drinking water, so tourists can quench their thirst at any time without worrying about its quality.
If you believe the legends, then at the base of the cathedral there is the tomb of St. Peter. He was one of Jesus' 12 disciples. You can get inside the cultural monument either with a guided tour or on your own. In the second case, the excursion will be no less interesting, but less hectic. You can not just “run” through all interesting places, but also sit quietly in a secluded corner of the cathedral of your choice, think about life, listen to a sermon (if you get here during its opening hours).
It is generally accepted that the first pope and bishop was the Apostle Peter, whom we already mentioned above. It was he who founded the first Christian school after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. But after a huge fire in Rome, superstitious authorities accused Christians of " the eternal City"burned almost to the ground. Peter himself was crucified as the main culprit of what happened.
However christian religion had already become a part of people's lives, so it was impossible to ignore the need for it further development. After all, religion was one of the pillars of ancient society. Bishops began to be given administrative functions, as well as the privileges of secular feudal lords. All this over time strengthened the power of the Catholic Church and the influence of its head. Do you know how the Pope is elected in the Vatican? Now we will tell you about it.
The Pope may leave his post or at will, or due to his death. When this place is vacated, a council consisting of cardinals meets, who are not allowed to discuss the election process outside the Sistine Chapel. The chapel itself is completely closed to the public during the elections.
A cardinal no older than 80 years old can nominate his candidacy for the post of Pope. The selection procedure itself is extremely precise and precise.
The selecting team clearly knows its responsibilities and adheres to all the rules. In the first stage of the election, each cardinal receives a ballot. Even those who are in the hospital on the voting date receive their voting slip. Then everyone who has the right to vote remains completely alone in the Sistine Chapel.
They must write the name of the chosen candidate on their ballot paper in block letters. Everything is arranged in such a way that it is impossible to determine for whom this or that cardinal voted. If after voting the number of sheets in the ballot box does not match the number of voters, then all ballots are burned without first being read. For one of the candidates to take over the post of head of the Catholic Church, he must receive two-thirds plus one vote.
While talking about how the Pope is elected, we did not explain about the smoke that people all over the world expect.
Everyone knows with what trepidation Catholics await the appearance of smoke above the building in which the election procedure for the Pope is taking place. You already know that if the ballots fail to be counted, they are all burned. But this is not the only time they go into the fire. Regardless of the outcome, after the end of voting, each piece of paper is burned. Until they all turn to ashes, the conclave has no right to leave the walls of the Sistine Chapel, where the Pope is elected.
It is thanks to this tradition that a thick cloud of smoke appears above it. Several centuries ago, after unsuccessful elections, the fire for the ballots was made of wet straw. Of course, she smoked heavily. That's why the smoke was black. Today, dye is used for these purposes.
The Pope's attire has changed more than once over the centuries. His outfit underwent the last major innovations during his reign. Many parts of the wardrobe are of an official nature. Dad wears them only on very exceptional occasions. It is almost impossible for the average person to see such items of clothing. If we talk about more casual outfits, the Pope's costume consists of the following elements:
It was thanks to these elements of clothing that the image of the Supreme Bishop became recognizable throughout the world. This is the only way he dresses after the moment when the team electing the Pope approves his candidacy. You can distinguish him from other church ministers thanks to his belt with a golden coat of arms. Only he has the right to wear such a symbol of power outside of liturgies.
The tradition of changing the name during the pontificate dates back to the 6th century. Once elected, the Pope announces under what name he will reign. If this name was used by one of his predecessors, then a serial number is added. The most frequently used names according to statistics are Leo, Gregory, Benedict and Innocent. Each of them was used more than ten times during the history of the papacy.
There is a strict ban on only one name - Peter. Servants of the Catholic Church do not risk taking the name of the apostle who founded their religion. There is also a prophecy that the Pope named Peter II will be the forerunner of the end of the world.
Today, the 266th Pope reigns. His name is Francis.
We looked at which body has the right to choose the Pope.
There is a whole list that contains the names of the heads of Catholics who distinguished themselves in varying degrees from their predecessors and successors. Among them we have chosen the most famous ones.
As we see, not all popes were distinguished by righteousness, despite the vows they made. If we take into account that this post was already occupied by almost three hundred people, then the few people who had such disgusting habits constitute only a very small part. Therefore, the Catholic Church still remains a powerful and unshakable force.
We already know how the Pope is chosen. But what is the limit of this person's real power? As for the Catholic Church specifically, its power is limitless and exceptional. Any statement by the Pope concerning religion and morality is considered an immutable truth and cannot be discussed.
The way the Pope is chosen has this great importance for the entire Catholic world. After all, among all the worthy, the conclave gives preference to the person whose words will become the truth for millions of people on the planet.
The temporal power of the Pope is limited to the fact that he is the head of state of the Vatican.
