4. Reaching a decisionVatican workers hoisted a chimney onto the roof of the Sistine Chapel in readiness for the conclave of cardinals that will elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope John Paul II changed the rules of election in 1996. 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 inconclusive voting.
In 2007, Pope Benedict passed a decree reverting back to the two-thirds majority, thus encouraging cardinals to reach consensus, rather than one bloc backing a candidate with more than half the votes and then holding out for 12 days to ensure his election.
If after three days of balloting nobody has gained the two-thirds majority, voting is suspended for a maximum of one day to allow a pause for prayer, informal discussion and what is described as "a brief spiritual exhortation" by the senior cardinal in the Order of Deacons.
At the end of the election, a document is drawn up giving the results of the voting at each session, and handed over to the new pope. It is kept in an archive in a sealed envelope, which can be opened only on the orders of the pope.
The only clue about what is going on inside the Sistine Chapel is the smoke that emerges twice a day from burning the ballot papers. Black signals failure. The traditional white smoke means a new pope has been chosen.
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/)Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=71278.0