Electing A Pope Trivia Quiz

Answer: College of Cardinals

The new Pope is chosen by the College of Cardinals, usually from within the group of Cardinals. The last time a Pope was elected from outside the College of Cardinals was in 1378. In a secret meeting, called a Conclave, they decide who is to fill the vacancy of the Holy See.

Answer: Sistine Chapel

Meeting in the Sistine Chapel, the College of Cardinals traditionally uses secret ballots to choose the new pontiff. There have been times when the elections were conducted by the cardinals saying their choice out loud, but this is a rare occurence.

Answer: 80

In 1975, Pope Paul VI decreed that no Cardinal over the age of 80 was eligible to participate in papal elections. He made this rule in an addendum to the Church's Constitution entitled "Romano Pontifico Eligendo".

Answer: 120

For this reason, and in order to abide by the above mentioned rule, only 120 clergymen younger than age 80 are allowed to be raised to the level of Cardinal at any one time. Of course, papal conclaves can occur with fewer than 120 voting cardinals.

Answer: Calling his name three times

The Pope's death is verified by the Cardinal Camerlengo calling his baptismal name three times without a response. Traditionally, the Pope's forehead is also tapped with a small mallet. At this point, a death certificate is prepared and the Cardinal Camerlengo prepares for the funeral and burial of the Pope. He also prepares for the election process and the conclave.

Answer: No

The election is to be held with the utmost secrecy. During the Conclave, the Sistine Chapel is scanned for wiretaps and 'bugs' regularly, to ensure that the outside world knows nothing of the proceedings. Also, the windows are blacked out to prevent the Cardinals from receiving word from the outside world. Any Cardinal who breaks his oath is automatically punished by the new Pope, but, the penalty is not excommunication necessarily.

See http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P58.HTM

Answer: white

During each election, the Cardinals write the name of their candidate on paper ballots. After each election, the ballots are burned. If a new Pope has not been chosen, straw is burned with the ballots in order to create black smoke. If a decision has been made, the paper is treated so that it will burn white. At this point, the world knows that a new Pope has been chosen.

Answer: two-thirds majority

During the first 30 elections, a two-thirds majority is required. If, after 30 attempts to elect a Pope a candidate has not been selected, a simple majority (51%) is all that is needed.

Answer: Himself

Once a candidate has been selected, he is asked if he accepts his election to the Papal Throne. If so, he then selects the name by which he will be called as Pope. The tradition of choosing a papal name originates from several ideas. As early as the Sixth Century, a priest named Mercurius took the name of John II, not wishing to keep his pagan birth name once he ascended the Papal Throne. Gregory V, elected in 996, was a German whose birth name was Bruno.

Other stories mention the papacy of Pope Sergius IV, who reigned from 1009-1012.

His birth name was Peter, and legend has it that he did not wish to be compared to St. Peter, the original Pope. Whatever the reason, it has been centuries since any Pope retained his birth name once accepting election.

Answer: Senior Cardinal Deacon

Once the new Pope is elected, the Senior Cardinal Deacon announces his election to the world. From the balcony of the Vatican, he proclaims, 'Habemus Papam!' ('We have a Pope'). And the crowd goes wild. :)

Much thanks to newadvent.com for some of the information in this quiz.