CONCLAVE OVERVIEW

Cardinals meet under an oath of secrecy to elect the new leader of

PREPARATIONS
the Catholic Church. Popes have been chosen this way since 1271.
1 Cardinals take residence in
Domus Sanctae Marthae.
ST. PETER'S
BASILICA 2 The electors celebrate Mass in
Where the new pope St. Peters Basilica the morn-
is introduced from the ing of the conclaves first day.
central balcony and
opens his ministry 3 The electors process from
DOMUS with an investiture the Apostolic Palace to the
SANCTAE a few days later Sistine Chapel chanting
SISTINE CHAPEL Come Holy Spirit, creator.
MARTHAE
Where the Where the election takes 4 The electors take an oath to
cardinals sleep place in total secrecy maintain the rules and secrecy
during the of the proceedings.
conclave
APOSTOLIC 5 Two meditations begin the
PALACE election process.
Where the pope
has his apartment,
office and library
BALLOTING

1 Voting is on paper ballots, with

just one tally on the first day.
2 After that, rounds of balloting
two in the morning, two
in the afternoon proceed
until a new pope is elected by
a two-thirds majority.
3 If balloting does not yield a
two-thirds majority, ballots
along with any other notes
made by electors are burned.
4 If balloting results in the
AUDIENCE election of a pope, a special
HALL chemical added to the burning
Where the ballots causes them to yield a
pope generally white smoke. The white smoke
greets pilgrims signals that a new pope has
and visitors been chosen.
on Wednesdays ST. PETER'S 5 If a new pope is not chosen
SQUARE after three days of balloting,
Where pilgrims voting is suspended for a day
are expected to of prayer and reflection; after
gather to greet about 12 days, cardinals can
the new pope move to a simple majority.

Source: CNS 2005 CNS Graphics