Prompt Cast
The Process of Choosing a New Pope Explained
TLDR The process of selecting a new pope involves cardinals being locked in until a pope is elected, a cardinal verifying the death of the previous pope, a period of day-to-day workings by the Carmelengo, and the cardinals convening in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave where they take an oath of secrecy. Once a new pope is chosen, they are given papal garments and announce their papal name.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The Roman Catholic papacy is one of the oldest institutions in the world, and the process of choosing a new pope is unlike any other in the world.
02:09
The process of selecting a new pope was not codified until 1059, when Pope Nicholas II issued a papal bull stating that only cardinals could elect a pope.
04:01
After the death of Pope Clement IV in 1268, it took the cardinals three years to elect a new pope due to interference, leading to the implementation of the conclave rule where cardinals are locked in until a pope is elected.
05:55
After the death or resignation of a pope, the cardinal Carmelengo verifies the death and the papacy officially ends, entering a period called Sete Vicante, during which the Carmelengo is responsible for the day-to-day workings of the Vatican until a new pope is named, and the funeral and burial of the pope take place before the conclave begins.
07:46
During the conclave, the cardinals stay at St. Martha's House, and once it begins, they convene in the Sistine Chapel, where they take an oath of secrecy and all communication with the outside world is cut off.
09:36
If someone is elected as pope, they are asked if they accept the election, and if they do, they become pope and choose a papal name.
11:20
After the new pope is chosen, they are taken to the room of tears, where they are given papal garments and congratulated by the cardinals before the announcement is made in Latin and the pope gives his blessing to the crowd.
