Holy See posts minimum qualifications for becoming a pope on LinkedIn

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What does it take to become a pope?

The Holy See shared the minimum qualifications for a pope on its official LinkedIn account after it received "several messages of interest in the Sede Vacante."

The Catholic Church is now in a period of sede vacante ("the see being vacant") following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. During this period, the papal coat of arms is replaced by a sede vacante seal.

The papal conclave to elect the next pope will begin on May 7; around 135 cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the papal election. Electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel, completely isolated from the outside world, until a new pontiff is elected.

A two-thirds majority is needed to elect the new Bishop of Rome. White smoke will appear from the Sistine Chapel's chimney once a new pope is chosen, while black smoke means an inconclusive vote.

If you're wondering what qualifications are required and preferred of a pope to lead 1.3 billion Catholics around the world, here's the list from the Holy See's LinkedIn post.

Compulsory canonical requirements 

• A baptized Catholic
• Male
• In possession of a sound mind
• Eligible for episcopal ordination
• Has not been excommunicated or canonically impeded

Traditionally expected

• Already a Cardinal
• Eucharist and Marian love
• Mature age
• A solid theological education
• Known for holiness and moral integrity

Practical and real-world expectations

• Wisdom and prudence
• Conflict resolution
• Cultural understanding and sensitivity
• Diplomacy
• Capable of handling long hours and heavy workload
• Joy in serving with almost no holidays. Preference for the poor and vulnerable
• Public speaking, communication, good singing voice (preferred)
• Multilingual ability. Latin and Italian proficiency are valued
• High emotional resilience
• Physical endurance and good health (preferred)
• Capable of spotting the best talent for key roles
• Vision for the Catholic Church's future

—CDC, GMA Integrated News