The Town Hall Archives

Jonathan · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:08 pm Post subject: The Pope

Doctors Perform Operation on Ailing Pope

Pope on Respirator After Airway Surgery

I think it's safe to say he won't be around much longer and I was wondering; what's involved in choosing a Pope?

-Jonathan

Disco Dan · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:11 pm Post subject:

Whoever looks the best in the Pope's robes, wins! Wink

Jarem11 · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:14 pm Post subject:

Jared · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:25 pm Post subject:

Popes are elected in secret by the college of cardinals.

Technically speaking, they are not electing a pope but rather a bishop; the cardinals in the college, all appointed by the pope, being the official clergy of Rome, are charged with the task of electing a bishop of Rome, just as the Catholic clergy in other areas elects bishops. However, the bishop of Rome has primacy in the Catholic hierarchy.

The four Lateran councils and the Council of Lyons largely created the present form of papal election, a move prompted by the schism. They wanted to assure that they would never again have a number of antipopes. When the new pope is to be elected, the members of the College of Cardinals will be sequestered -- the Conclave -- until such time as they have chosen a new bishop of Rome by a 2/3rds vote.

Coralfish · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 11:48 pm Post subject:

To add a little to that, I took this exerpt from a Papal history page:

"Currently, there are three possible methods for choosing a new pontiff. A vocal vote may be taken, but the results must be unanimous in order for the vote to be valid. A unanimous selection by the cardinals, usually a 9 to 15 member committee, may also agree on a new pope and the vote will be considered valid, however, the most common method used today is election by ballot.

When the pope passes away, the Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals notifies all cardinals and calls a morning meeting. The cardinals draw lots to select three members whose job it will be to collect the ballots from the members. An additional three cardinals are selected to count the votes, and still another three will review the results. After the representatives are chosen, the balloting process begins. Each voting cardinal, who cannot be more than 80 years old by election law, writes the name of their choice for pope on a blank piece of paper. They each in turn, approach an altar, pledge themselves to perform their duty with honor and integrity and then place their ballot in the ballot box. At the end of the vote, the three appointed cardinals count the votes and the result is read to the remainder of the membership. If there is no winner, two additional voting sessions are scheduled for that same afternoon and conducted in the same manner.

As per tradition, the winner must win two-thirds of the vote plus one (to prevent a pope from voting for himself), but Pope John Paul II modified this rule in 1996, when he declared that if after 12 or 13 days there was still no winner, the cardinals could invoke a rule that would permit the selection of the new pope by an absolute majority.

Each time after the ballots are counted, they are then burned. If there is no declared winner, a chemical is mixed with the ballots that produces a thick black smoke when thrown into the fire. The waiting throngs of people outside in St. Peter’s Square watch the roof for the color of smoke emerging from the Vatican Palace signaling the election of a new pope. The sight of the black smoke always brings disappointed sighs from the crowd as they know it will be hours before the next vote is taken. When the voting is finally successful and a new pope is chosen, the ballots are burned without the chemical and white smoke pours from the rooftop.

The winner of the vote is then asked if he accepts the decision of the committee. If he responds affirmatively, the Dean asks what name he chooses to be known by. The Dean announces it to the cardinals and all offer their congratulations and blessings.

The oldest cardinal then has the privilege of announcing the choice to the waiting crowd in St. Peter’s Square. He steps out onto the balcony and says in Latin “Habemus papam” (“We have a pope”). He turns then to introduce the new pontiff and the new pope steps onto the balcony. He is greeted by cheers as he blesses Rome and the rest of the world.

Most, but not all popes, are installed in their post with an official cornation ceremony, led by all the voting and non-voting cardinals, but the current Pope, John Paul II refused this rite and chose instead to be installed during a Mass in St. Peter’s Square. "

The Top Crusader · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 12:35 pm Post subject:

All the candidates for Pope get into those little "Pope-Mobile" carts, and drive around, trying to take each other out with various twirling spike things that come out of their tires, laser beams, and missiles.

The last man standing is the new Pope.

Christian Cowgirl · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 12:39 pm Post subject:

Kanimoto · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 1:58 pm Post subject:

Unless the last man standing suddenly falls over and dies. Rolling Eyes

The Phantom · Junior Member Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 248

howdypardner · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 7:20 pm Post subject:

As much as I disagree with Catholic theology, this pope has taken a strong Biblical stand on many issues Protestants waffle on - abortion, homosexual marriage, etc.