1. Upon the Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
How is a Pope Elected

2. How is the New Pope Chosen?
The Church leaders, designated as the College of Cardinals, gather in Rome, Italy to elect a new Pope either when the previous Pope dies or resigns
This process of electing the new Pope is known as a conclave

3. The Conclave
The election of a Pope is quite different than a democratic election for a mayor or a president
Political campaigning, debates, and speeches are irrelevant in selecting the next Pope

4. Secrecy
Secrecy is very important so that the cardinals are not influenced by other people
All cardinals under the age of 80 years old will remain, under locked doors, until they choose a new Pope

5. Secrecy
They promise not to use their cell phones, read newspapers, and they stay together at the Vatican the entire time of the election, whether it be days or weeks

6. Before the sealing of the Sistine Chapel
The cardinals hear two sermons before the election: one before entering the conclave, and one once they are settled in the Sistine Chapel
In both cases, the sermons are meant to lay out the current state of the Church, and to suggest the qualities necessary for a new pope

7. On the Morning of the Conclave
On the morning of the day designated by the Congregations of Cardinals, the cardinal electors assemble in St Peter's Basilica to celebrate the Eucharist

8. On the Morning of the Conclave
Then, they gather in the afternoon in the Pauline Chapel of the Palace of the Vatican, proceeding to the Sistine Chapel while singing the Veni Creator Spiritus

9. Taking the oath
The Cardinals then take an oath to observe the procedures set down by the apostolic constitutions
The Cardinal Dean reads the oath aloud in full; in order of precedence, the other cardinal electors merely state, while touching the Gospels, that they "do so promise, pledge and swear"

10. Expelling the outsiders
After all the cardinals present have taken the oath, the Master of the Papal Liturgical Celebrations orders all individuals other than the cardinals electors and conclave participants to leave the Chapel
Traditionally, he stands at the door of the Sistine Chapel and calls out: "Extra omnes!" (Latin for, roughly, "Everybody else, out!")
He then closes the door

11. Voting In the Sistine Chapel
Voting takes place in the Sistine Chapel
Each completed ballot is placed on an open paten, and then dropped into a chalice

12. The White Smoke
If the two-thirds majority is not reached, the ballots are burned in a stove with a chemical to emit black smoke (straw used to be added to make the smoke black)
If white smoke is seen, then a new pope has been elected
This balloting process occurs twice a day until a pope is elected

13. Time for Prayer and Reflection
The cardinals who will vote spend time praying and listening to the Holy Spirit in their hearts before they vote
This way, they know the man they elect as the new leader of the Church on earth is the one that Jesus would call if he were on the earth today, just like he called Peter

14. Waiting
Because the cardinals are still in the locked room, the people waiting outside watch the chimney to learn whether a Pope has been elected or not

15. Selection
When selected, the presiding cardinal approaches the elected for his consent
If he accepts, he chooses a papal name, like Benedict XVI or Pope John Paul II, which has lineage to a Saint or another Pope

16. “The Room of Tears”
Immediately upon acceptance of his appointment, the new Pope is led into a small antechamber to the Sacristy of the Sistine Chapel, where he reflects on the heavy burden he will carry
This area is known as “The Room of Tears”

17. “The Room of Tears”
He then dresses in white [cassock and zucchetto] and is announced to the world from the balcony above Saint Peter’s Square
Next, the senior Cardinal Deacon appears at the main balcony of the basilica's façade to proclaim the new pope with the Latin phrase…

18. Habemus Papam! Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!
I announce to you a great joy:
We have a Pope!

19. Pray for our future Holy Father