How will the new head of the Catholic Church be chosen? Pope Francis’s death has set off centuries-old traditions which will culminate in cardinals electing a new pontiff through a conclave. Here’s what you need to know about the highly-secretive process.
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00:00The death of Pope Francis has set in motion centuries-old traditions,
00:04which culminate in the election of the next head of the Catholic Church through a conclave of
00:08cardinals. Here's what you need to know about the highly secretive process.
00:17Cardinals will arrive at the Vatican from across the world to select Pope Francis' successor,
00:22but not all of them. Since 1970, only those under the age of 80 can vote.
00:26This year, there's 135 eligible cardinals from 71 countries. Between 15 and 20 days after the
00:33Pope's death, cardinals will meet in a conclave, or locked room in Latin. They will proceed to the
00:39Sistine Chapel, where the vote will be held, vowing not to communicate with the outside world.
00:44The Master of Ceremonies will then give the order extra omnis, meaning everyone out,
00:48and all those not permitted to vote will leave the chapel. Cardinals will cast ballots by writing
00:54down the name of their candidate on a piece of paper, and then folding it twice.
00:59A cardinal must secure two-thirds of the vote to be elected as Pope. If no one receives the
01:03necessary number of votes, the electors will keep voting up to four times a day until a Pope has
01:08been chosen. In the case that there's still no result after three days, the vote would be paused
01:13for a day of prayer. The process continues until there's a definitive result. Twice a day, the ballots
01:19are burned in a stove in the chapel. Its chimney can be seen from St. Peter's Square, where crowds
01:24await the result of the election. If it releases black smoke, no Pope has been chosen. When white
01:30smoke finally appears, a new Pope has been elected. In the 2005 election for Benedict XVI,
01:36grey smoke came out of the chimney, causing confusion for the crowd. Today, chemicals are added to enhance
01:41the black or white color of the smoke. Once elected, the chosen cardinal must then answer two
01:46questions. Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff? And what Papal name would
01:52you like to use? As soon as he accepts, he becomes Pope. Then, from the central balcony,
01:58the senior cardinal deacon will announce the news to the crowd with the famous Latin phrase,
02:02abemus papum, we have a Pope.
02:08He'll also reveal the chosen name of the new Pontiff. The new leader of the Catholic Church will then
02:14appear on the balcony to deliver his first Urbi et Orbi blessing. Pope Francis' successor will become
02:20the 267th Pope in history.