I am doing a research on Pope of the Roman Catholic Church,...so i want to know what it takes and how the whole thing goes....before someone becomes the Pope..
the more information then better, Thanks and God bless you all ^_^
2006-11-19 16:36:08 · 4 answers · asked by Wot Shines Like Diamonds?Ruby =P 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the cardinals play spin the bottle the cardinal wiht the most lipstick on his collar becomes the new pope
2006-11-19 16:37:46 · answer #1 · answered by Jayson V 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Angels & Demons is a good way to get a glimpse at how a conclave (election process for the papacy) works, but it flirts with fiction a bit too much to be a basis for understanding. "Selecting the Pope" by Greg Tobin is a clear read that will give you a better basis.
In a nutshell, within about a week of the previous Pope's funeral, all the Cardinals who are able to attend begin the conclave process There has been TONS of speculation, discussion, and lunches before this point, but once the conclave begins, the men get very serious. While it is possible to elect someone as Pope who is not a cardinal, it hasn't happened in centuries. The men vote by written but secret ballot twice a day. There are rituals that, hopefully, reinforce the fact that these men have prayed about their choice. If one man has over 2/3 the vote (double check that number), he is elected Pope. Otherwise, the ballots are burned and the men go back to discussions and voting. Once a man is elected, the ballots are burned with a chemical that makes the smoke white, a signal to the outside world that a Pope has been chosen.
Besides the book I mentioned above, "God's Choice" by George Weigel is a good resource to really understand the most recent conclave and how it operated in the post-modern world. The author is pretty pro-Benedict, but the insight into the process is facinating.
2006-11-20 01:06:12 · answer #2 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the article I've linked you to will help a lot. It mentions the process of conclave and the history and how the selection of the pope comes about.
Hope that helps. Have a great report. ^_^
2006-11-20 00:53:13 · answer #3 · answered by Sudy Nim 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown...
2006-11-20 00:44:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋