http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=globalNews&storyID=2005-04-18T232003Z_01_L18573207_RTRIDST_0_BIGSTORY-POPE-CONCLAVE-FACTBOX-DC.XML
http://tinyurl.com/83mbk Who, Where, How of Catholic Conclaves Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:20 AM BST Printer Friendly | Email Article | RSS VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Roman Catholic Cardinals begin a conclave Monday to elect a successor to Pope John Paul II. The winner will be the 265th pontiff in history. Following are key facts about the conclave -- one of the world's oldest and most secret electoral exercises. WHO - 115 cardinals under age 80 from 52 countries will participate. Two other eligible cardinals are ill and will not attend. Sixty-six cardinals over 80 cannot take part. The person chosen as pope does not necessarily have to be one of the cardinal electors, but in practice almost always is. WHERE - Starting at 4:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. EDT) Monday, the cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel, under Michelangelo's frescoes of Bible scenes including the creation panel depicting the finger of God and the finger of Adam nearly touching. For the first time cardinals are accommodated in comfort in a new Vatican hotel with private bathrooms instead of in cramped rooms around the Sistine Chapel. They will be banned from communicating with the outside world -- no phones, newspapers, television, radio or Internet. HISTORY - The word conclave (from Latin "cum clave," or "with a key") dates back to the protracted election of Celestine IV in 1241 when cardinals were locked up in a crumbling palace. One conclave in the 13th century lasted 2 years, 9 months and 2 days. The average length of the eight conclaves in the 20th century was just over 3 days. The last conclave which elected John Paul II in 1978 lasted fewer than 3 days. BALLOTING - The cardinals may cast their first vote on Monday. From Tuesday morning they will vote as often as twice each morning and twice each afternoon. After every 3 days, cardinals suspend voting for a day. To win, a candidate needs a two-thirds majority, or at least 77 votes. After 33 or 34 ballots, cardinals can decide to switch to a majority vote. Smoke, signifying that a vote or votes have been held, is expected to appear at around noon (6 a.m. EDT) and 7 p.m. (1 p.m. EDT) unless a candidate wins on the first ballot in the morning or afternoon, in which case smoke could emerge earlier. SMOKE - After cardinals cast their votes on papers printed with the Latin words "Eligo in Summum Pontificem" ("I choose as Supreme Pontiff"), the ballots are burned and smoke pours from a makeshift chimney above the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke marks an inconclusive vote, white smoke and the tolling of the bells of St. Peter's Basilica mean a pope has been elected. Additives are used to determine the color of the smoke. "HABEMUS PAPAM" - When a pope is chosen, a senior cardinal appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and announces in Latin: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam" ("I announce to you great joy. We have a pope"). The new pope later steps forward to deliver his first public address and his first "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") blessing to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square. Once the new pope has accepted, he picks a name. Those most often chosen have been John (23 times), Gregory (16), Benedict (15) Clement (14), Innocent (13) and Leo (13). © Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Plan great trips with Yahoo! Travel: Now over 17,000 guides! http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Would you Help a Child in need? It is easier than you think. Click Here to meet a Child you can help. http://us.click.yahoo.com/0Z9NuA/I_qJAA/i1hLAA/wpWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> "[M]y ministry is that of servus servorum Dei." --Pope John Paul II (Ut Unum Sint, no. 88) "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." --Matthew 16:18 Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pope-John-Paul-II/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
