Conclave: Visual Guide to choose the Pope and your secret process

Conclave: Visual Guide to choose the Pope and your secret process

For centuries, the leader of the Catholic Church has been chosen in a highly secret meeting, which is known as a "concrete" - derived from the Latin word "cum clave", which means "with key". This name points out that the cardinals were previously included until the election of a new Pope. The cardinals that have the task of choosing the next Pontifex follow a complex procedure that has its roots in the Middle Ages.

The modern rituals of the conclave

The rituals as we know them today have been revised over the centuries by successive pops. Most of the modern rules that follow the cardinals were fundamentally revised by John Paul II in the apostolic constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis" from 1996, with some further adjustments by Benedict XVI.

The course of the pope choice

As soon as the date is set, the cardinals entitled to vote go to the place of the conclaves - the Sistine chapel in the Vatican. A candidate needs two thirds of the votes cast to be elected.

a competition of ideologies

in this conclave, which as Kampf Want to continue Pope Francis and who are aiming for a slower course and wish to have a course correction, numerous factors play a role.

the ceremony and the first apostolic blessing

After the election, the new Pope steps on the balcony, framed by Red Curtains, and speaks his first apostolic blessing, known as "Urbi et orbi" ("to the city and the world"). This marks the end of the complex election process. In the following days, the new Pope will take part in its inauguration fair, which usually takes place in the Peterskirche before taking on his duties as head of the Catholic Church.

This article was created with the support of CNN reporter Lauren Kent.