How long will it be (I've never done this before)?

[deadparrot]

I'm a nonpracticing Catholic, but seeing as JPII has been pope my entire life, I'm kind of interested to see what's going to happen.

Does anyone know how long it will take to elect a new pope? I know all the cardinals have to get to Rome, then start voting. I heard JPII was elected in three days, but then again, JPI had died so quickly.

[JohnKleeb]

1. 2-3 weeks I hear

Me too, Ive been studying the candidates and the diversity of the field to be truthful has impressed me, people from four continents, theres some diversity of views too.

[Princess Turandot]

2. Well first they need to have a furneral and burial, which could be

complicated if he asked to be laid to rest in Poland. By Church law, he should be buried 4 to 6 days after his death. The date may depend on how many people show up to attend the viewing of his body. CNN International said that Italy expects that upwards of 2 million ordinary people may descend on Rome in hopes of viewing him.Every hotel/hostel/room in Rome & the surrounding areas have already been booked and people are camping at train stations. (However, I have the impression which could very well be wrong, that a small religious service could occur when he is buried, to be followed by what is likely to be an enormous funeral mass.)

The College of Cardinals meets today (Monday) to determine the funeral rites.Then within 15 to 20 days or so, they get locked into the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, site of Michaelangelo's famous fresco, to vote on a new Pope. At one time, their accomodations were often just cots, but JP II built a residence for visiting priests and sisters to use, so the Cardinals will stay there. Only Cardinals under the age of 80 may vote. There are 117 of them. Any votes which take place are anonymous and then are burned. They put a chemical into the burning paper so that it will emit black smoke if there is no 'winner'.

Between the death of the Pope and the commencement of the voting enclave, quite a bit of politicking occurs, or at least private discussions of what type of Pope should next be elected. (I heard a priest today compare the process to what American Presidential Nominating conventions used to be, which you may not remember. In the not so old days of American politics, a candidate was often not 'annointed' prior to the convention, and trade offs among candidates re: voting blocks were made in the days during the conventions.)

2/3rd's of the voting cardinals plus 1, must agree on the new Pope.
If after 30 votes, no one wins the required amt of votes, then a simple majority of votes will prevail. When a new Pope is chosen, they burn the ballots with something that creates white smoke.

Then, someone official walks out onto the balcony overlooking Vatican Square, and says in Italian 'We've have a Pope'. Then he is introduced, and makes his first address to the Catholics of Rome.

When Karol Cardinal Woytylja was announced, the cheers in the Square turned to murmurings. First non-Italian Pope in almost 500 years.Fortunately, among a multitude of languages, he spoke Italian fluently and before long had them laughing and cheering 'Viva Il Papa'.

Many Catholics do believe that the choice of Pope is inspired by the Holy Spirit. In this case, that was probably the case.Let's hope the next one will be as well.

hth,
PT

[SaveAmerica]

6. I'm thinking that way more than 2 million will show up, does anyone

else? My daughter and I were just talking about this. I wouldn't be surprised if at least 2 million from Europe alone will go, not to mention the devoted across the world. (Just now thinking about how full the trains will be between Poland and Italy).

[Beer Snob-50]

3. No one really knows how long it will take

no one can campaign for the job, they are not supposed to talk about who they want for the job.

[UrbScotty]

4. They will start voting the week of April 17.

They have four rounds of voting each day, and they keep voting until someone gets 2/3.

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. After 30 ballots, it becomes 50% +1.

That was a change John Paul II initiated, to avoid extremely long conclaves.

:)