The Vatican has a well-established process for selecting a new pope after the death of the previous one. This process is guided by the law known as Universi Dominici Gregis, which outlines the key steps and timeline for the selection of a new pope.

Key Steps in the Process

After the death of the pope, the cardinals gather in Rome to begin the process of selecting a new pope. The first step is a period of mourning, which lasts for nine days. During this time, the cardinals will hold daily Masses and begin the process of preparing for the conclave, which is the formal gathering of cardinals to elect a new pope.

The conclave cannot begin earlier than 15 days and no later than 20 days after the pope’s death. The cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave, where they will vote on the new pope. The voting process involves multiple rounds of ballots, with the cardinals voting twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. The ballots are then burned, and the color of the smoke indicates whether a new pope has been elected (white smoke) or not (black smoke).

The Role of the Cardinals

The cardinals play a crucial role in the selection of a new pope. They are responsible for voting on the new pope and must come to a consensus on the selection. The cardinals will also determine where to hold the Mass for the new pope’s inauguration, which will likely take place at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.