What is a Roman Catholic conclave and who takes part?

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Here are key facts about the conclave — one of the world's oldest and most secretive electoral process

VATICAN CITY – Roman Catholic cardinals begin their conclave to elect the Church’s 267th pope on Wednesday, May 7.

Following are key facts about the conclave – one of the world’s oldest and most secretive electoral process.

Who takes part in the conclave?

Only cardinals aged under 80 when a pope dies can take part in a conclave. There were 135 cardinals who met that requirement when Pope Francis died last month but two have said they will not take part, meaning there will be 133 cardinal electors, a record number.

Cardinals aged 80 or over cannot take part.

The person chosen as pope does not have to be one of the cardinal electors, but in practice now always is.

The cardinal electors come from 70 countries, against 48 in 2013 when Pope Francis was elected. Italians make up the biggest single national bloc, with 19 cardinals, against 10 from the United States and seven from Brazil. In all, the Vatican says there are 52 cardinal electors considered from Europe, 23 from Asia, 17 from Africa, 17 from South America, 16 from North America, 4 from Central America and 4 from Oceania.

Where does the conclave take place?

The cardinals hold their election in the Sistine Chapel, under Michelangelo’s frescoes of the Last Judgment and of Bible scenes, including the creation panel with the fingers of God and Adam nearly touching.

Most participating cardinals sleep in a Vatican hotel near the chapel. They will be banned from communicating with the outside world — no phones, television or Internet.

How does the ballot work?

Except for the first day, when only one ballot is held, the cardinals hold two daily balloting sessions, two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon, until one candidate has a majority of “at least” two-thirds – 89 cardinals this time around. All participants are sworn to secrecy about the voting.

How long does a conclave last?

Modern papal conclaves are typically short. The average length of the last 10 conclaves was 3.2 days and none went on for more than five.

The 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis lasted two days, as did the 2005 conclave for Pope Benedict XVI, although he needed just four ballots to reach the two-thirds majority, while Francis needed five.

The longest papal election in history was the conclave of 1268-1271 in Viterbo, Italy. It lasted for two years, nine months and two days before Pope Gregory X was elected. He later established that in future elections, cardinals should be locked away in seclusion “cum clave,” to focus on their task.

The October 1503 conclave that elected Pope Julius II is often cited as one of the shortest, taking only a few hours on the first day of the meeting.

What does the smoke signify?

Cardinals cast their votes on papers printed with the Latin “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (I choose as Supreme Pontiff). The ballots are gathered together and burned at the end of the morning and afternoon sessions, with smoke pouring from a makeshift chimney above the Sistine Chapel.

Black smoke indicates inconclusive votes, while white smoke tells the world that a pope has been chosen. The great bell of St. Peter’s Basilica will ring out as an additional sign that a new pope has been elected.

The smoke signals are expected at around noon (1000 GMT) and 7 pm (1700 GMT) each voting day. However, smoke could emerge earlier if the new pontiff is elected in the first ballot of one of the sessions.

How is the new pope announced?

After a pope is chosen, a senior cardinal appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and announces in Latin: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam” (“I announce to you great joy. We have a pope”). He identifies the new pope by his given name, with his first name translated into its Latin version, and then announces the papal name, also in Latin, the new leader of the Church has chosen.

The papal names most often chosen have been John (23 times), Gregory (16), Benedict (16), Clement (14), Innocent (13), Leo (13) and Pius (12). Pope Francis was the first to choose that name, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

Following the announcement, the new pope steps forward to deliver his first public address and his first “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) blessing in front of the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

A few days later, the new pope will celebrate a Mass that marks the beginning of his ministry. – Rappler.com