How is the Pope Chosen? Preparing for the next Papal Conclave

With the recent passing of our Holy Father Pope Francis, as a Church we have been mourning not only his passing, but also possibly feeling worry and anxiety over what’s next for our Church. Many might be wondering—How does the Church select the next Pope?

Well, wonder no more! Today, we’re diving into the process, with help from the resources provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (You can visit their website at www.usccb.org to learn even more.)

First and foremost — the real answer is simple:

The Holy Spirit.

Our Church was founded by Christ Himself and continues to be guided by Him through the Holy Spirit.

Yes, humanity is flawed — our history as a Church is filled with both joyful triumphs and sorrowful struggles — yet God’s grace always fills in the cracks of our brokenness. It is His love that ultimately brings about the greater good He desires.

In the wake of the death of our beloved Pope Francis, we trust deeply that God will once again provide. We believe with confidence that He will call forth a new servant to sit in Peter’s chair — a shepherd for His people.

So, how does this process unfold practically? Let’s take a closer look:

When a pope dies (or resigns like in the case of our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI), the governance of the Catholic Church passes to the College of Cardinals.

Cardinals are bishops and Vatican officials from around the world, personally chosen by the pope, and are recognizable by their distinctive red vestments.

Their primary responsibility is simple and sacred: to elect the next pope.

Following a vacancy in the papacy, the cardinals gather at the Vatican for a series of meetings called general congregations.

During these meetings, they discuss the needs and challenges facing the Church globally and prepare for the upcoming papal election, known as the conclave.

During this time, decisions that only the pope can make — such as appointing new bishops or convening the Synod of Bishops — are put on hold.

When it is time for the election, eligible cardinals — those under the age of 80 — process into the Sistine Chapel.

Here, they take an oath of absolute secrecy, the doors are sealed, and the conclave begins.

The cardinals vote by secret ballot, one by one, standing before Michelangelo’s famous fresco of the Last Judgment, saying a prayer, and dropping their folded ballot into a large chalice.

Four rounds of balloting occur every day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority.

Each ballot’s result is counted aloud and recorded by three designated cardinals.

If no one achieves the necessary two-thirds vote, the ballots are burned in a stove with chemicals that produce black smoke, signaling to the world that a pope has not yet been chosen.

When a cardinal does receive the necessary votes, something beautiful happens:

The dean of the College of Cardinals asks him if he accepts his election.

If he accepts, he immediately chooses a papal name and dons the papal vestments.

The final ballots are burned with chemicals that produce white smoke, letting the world know:

We have a Pope! ("Habemus Papam!")

The senior cardinal deacon (currently French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran) then steps out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and announces the news to the world.

Soon after, the new pope appears and offers his first blessing to the city of Rome and to the entire world.

We hope this explanation of the election process gave you a deeper appreciation for the sacredness and beauty of this moment in the life of the Church.

We invite you to pray for the cardinals as they enter into this solemn time. Joni us on Tabella in praying a very special novena for the election of our next pope: https://web.tabella.app/podcast/fcc008c5-8a09-4754-9d84-af0207d8ec7b

May they be open to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and may their hearts be formed not by worldly concerns, but by a deep desire to do God's holy will.

🙏 Come, Holy Spirit!