1. Electing A New Pope Learning Intentions:
Pupils will know why a new Pope is needed.
Pupils will understand how a new Pope is elected.
Pupils will use the skills of managing information and decision making to complete the set tasks.

2. Why do we need a new Pope?
Pope Benedict XVI is the first pontiff to have stepped down since Gregory XII in 1415.
Canon Law states: "If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone."
Pope Benedict's resignation has set in motion the centuries-old process of electing a new pope.

3. Who chooses the new pope?
Popes are chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Church's most senior officials, who are appointed by the Pope and usually ordained bishops. They are summoned to a meeting at the Vatican which is followed by the Papal election - or Conclave.

4. Do all the Cardinals vote?
There are currently 203 cardinals from 69 countries.
The rules of the Conclave were changed in 1975 to exclude all cardinals over the age of 80 from voting.
The maximum number of cardinal electors is 120.
During the forthcoming Conclave, there will be 115 cardinal-electors: they have to be younger than 80 to be eligible to vote!

5. The Election
The meeting of cardinals, called the conclave ( from the Latin meaning “with a key”), In the afternoon, they walk in a procession to the Sistine Chapel -- to begin the actual voting process.
Ballots are passed out, and cardinals write in a candidate's name and fold it up, then one by one, in order of seniority, they approach an altar and ceremoniously place their ballots into a chalice.
Voting is secret, but ballots are counted in the open. A cardinal needs a vote of two-thirds to succeed in becoming pope. If there is no winner, the vote is repeated one time on the first day.

6. How does the actual vote happen?
Each Cardinal carries their vote to the
Cardinal Dean
As each vote is counted it is placed on a threaded needle
When the votes are all counted the voting cards are burnt.

7. Letting the people know
After each vote, the ballots land in the fireplace. If no one has won, a chemical is added to make the smoke black. This lets people waiting in St. Peter's Square below know that there is no new pope yet.
If there is a winner, no chemical is added, and the smoke remains white, telling the world that the conclave has agreed on a new pontiff.
What if there is no winner?
Then they vote again, and again, and again.

8. How many votes are needed to win?
The cardinals may cast ballots as many as four times on the second and third days. There needs to be a 2/3rds majority in favour of one person. By the end of the third day, if there is still no new pope, they break for a day for prayer, and discussions. Voting can go on for another seven rounds of balloting.

9. Still no pope?
Pope John Paul II changed the rules of election in Previously, a candidate had to secure a majority of two-thirds to be elected pope (two-thirds plus one vote if the number of cardinals does not divide by three).
John Paul II ruled that the voting could shift to a simple majority (50% plus one vote) after about 12 days of failed voting.
In 2007, Pope Benedict passed a decree going back to the two-thirds majority, thus encouraging cardinals to reach agreement themselves.

10. Habemus Papam The winner must accept the decision for it to be valid.
Once he does, the cardinal dean asks him to choose a papal name.
The oldest cardinal announces the new pope to the crowd in the square from a balcony.

11. The New Pope’s First Speech:
The new pope will walk out onto the Vatican balcony
He will be called by his own name, and then his new pope’s name.
He will then give his first blessing “Urbi et Orbi”.

12. Click on this hyperlink to watch how a pope is elected!
Click on this hyperlink to watch how a pope is elected!