"I am completely in your hands" Pope John Paul II , Last Will and Testament
With Pope John Paul II laid to rest, attention now turns to the qualities of the next pontiff
The senior cardinal deacon appears on the central balcony of St. Peter's and announces in Latin, "Habemus papam," --We have a pope!
The new pope appears on the balcony and offers his blessing to Rome and the world.
THE BALLOTS
Disguising his handwriting, each cardinal writes his choice on a ballot printed in Latin with the words Eligo in summum pontificem -- I elect as supreme pontiff.
THE CHALICE
Each cardinal places his twice-folded ballot on a golden plate and tips it into a 25-inch gold chalice.
THE MONITORS
Three cardinals who act as the scrutineers count the ballots to make sure they match the number of electors.
A scrutineer reads the name on each ballot out loud so that all the cardinals can keep track of the election. Three cardinals working as revisers double-check the numbers.
SEQUESTERED CARDINALS
Cardinals take oaths of secrecy and break all contact with the outside world. This means no cellphones, televisions, or newspapers for the duration of the election. The Sistine Chapel and surrounding areas are swept for listening devices and bugs.
WHERE THEY'RE FROM
European cardinals make up nearly half of all the electors, whose average age is 72. All but three of the cardinal electors have been appointed by John Paul II.
North America 14
Latin America 21
Europe 58
Africa 11
Asia 11
Oceania 2
TIMES HAVE CHANGED
In 1268 it took nearly three years for the conclave to elect a pope. Frustrated townspeople locked the electors inside their meeting place and removed the roof to expose them to the elements to hasten the vote.
Conclaves since 1846 have lasted no longer than four days. Today's cardinal electors stay at St. Martha's House, a well-appointed, 130-room guesthouse built by John Paul II.
The declaration
When a cardinal delivers his ballot, he kneels in prayer, rises, and declares: "I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected."
Infirmarians
These cardinals handle the ballots of any cardinal too sick to attend the conclave meetings.
VOTE SIGNAL
Ballots are burned in a furnace near the Sistine Chapel to keep the process secret. If a pope is not elected, chemicals are added to make black smoke. Once he is chosen, white smoke is produced.
Until 1978, wet straw was burned with the ballots to create black smoke. Dry straw produced white.
This year, for the first time, St. Peter's bells will toll to help announce a successful election.
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Scrutineers
Revisers
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Vatican City
St. Martha's House
St. Peter's Basilica
Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel
The cardinals meet in this 15th century chapel famous for its Michelangelo frescoes.
Sources: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; "Papal Transitions," article in America, The National Catholic Weekly by the Rev. Thomas Reese; Conclave by John Allen Jr.; news reports; Graphic by Rob Cady-- USN&WR ; Written by Philippe Moulier, Stephen Rountree, Nicole Schofer-- USN&WR
With John Phillips
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