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Who selects the new pope?

by Guest2832  |  12 years, 8 month(s) ago

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Pope - Cardinals have the exclusive right to select the pope. Today's selection procedures took shape during the Middle Ages as the cardinals, through whom the Holy Spirit elects the pope, became some of the pope's most trusted advisors. In 1059 pope Nicholas II gave cardinals the leading role in electing popes, in part to avoid the feuding Romans from making the office more political than spiritual. But canon law allowed other clerics to participate and the sitting pope to let his choice for successor be known.

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  1. GiGi
    Popes have been selected by the Roman Catholic Church's college of cardinals since the early 12th century. This was established as official policy of the Church at the Lateran Council III in 1179 CE.

    The pope is elected in a process called a "conclave." The word "conclave" is derived from two Latin words which mean "with a key." It refered to the past practice of locking the cardinals in a somewhat confined space -- lately the Sistine Chapel -- and not allowing them to emerge until they have elected a new pope. On 1996-FEB-22, Pope John Paul II updated the rules governing the conclave. The cardinals will no longer be confined to the Sistine Chapel, day and night, throughout the entire election process. They will be assigned comfortable living quarters in suitable locations within the Vatican.

    Only those members of the College of Cardinals who have not reached their 80th birthday are allowed in the conclave. They currently constitute a group of about 120 men. Almost all have been personally selected by Pope John II. Conclaves have a history of selecting unexpected cardinals as the next pope.

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