i only want Catholics to answer me, because i want the facts not your opinons.so who chooses the Pope and how?

Answer 1

The Holy Spirit chooses the Pope.

The Cardinals of the Catholic Church who are under 70 years of age gather at the Vatican to pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit and then vote for the next Pope.

Here are some more details: http://www.americancatholic.org/features/johnpaulii/transition/PapalConclaveCU.asp
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/JohnPaulII/transition/CNS.asp

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

And exactly why do you assume that only Catholics know the answer to this?

Rome has the power to choose the pope since 300AD when Constantine took Christianity as the official religion. He took the power away from the disciples and made it a huge, pompous ceremony instead of the small informal thing it was before with the disciples of Christ. He also took over the choosing of the pope, using his ideas instead of the ways the early christians chose their leader. This is all historical fact. availave to anyone who studies the hisory of Christianity, not just people of the catholic faith.

Now the church of cardinals choose their pope. These Cardinals can be influenced on who they pick by a outgoing/dying pope, such as what was done by Pope John Paul II in Sept 2003 when he named 31 new cardinals so they would vote for whom he wanted as a successor.

Answer 3

Originally the Pope, as bishop of Rome, was elected by the people of Rome. During the Middle Ages, when this became a popularity contest and some poor choices were made, the rules were changed so that only higher prelates chose the Pope. This became a task for the Cardinals, the "princes" of the church. Of course they too were subject to influence, so locked conclaves were employed as a method to limit outside influence and give the Holy Spirit a chance to intervene.

But as in any institution, politics of some kind is involved. Although the oldest Cardinals are prevented from voting, the number of Cardinals elevated in the last 20 years has outstripped the limits of Canon Law. Effectively, John Paul stacked the deck with like-minded conservatives, having appointed the vast majority of Cardinals during his reign. So effectively, he "elected" the type of pope his successor would be.

Answer 4

What makes you think that only a Catholic could answer that question? Have you ever watched one of the 5 news networks. Do you think only Catholics watch documentaries on How the Pope is chosen.

You should have caveatted ---- Answer this question only if you have researched it or if you have seen a recent documentary or extended News report on the subject.




I am insulted by the fact that you assumed that non Catholics are brain dead in regards to knowing about the Pope and Arch Diases(sp).

You have made a Cardinal mistake and so has the Roman Catholic Church.

Answer 5

College of Cardinals meeting in Conclave. If no cardinal has been elected by two-thirds majority after a certain number of ballots, the cardinals may agree by absolute majority (half + 1) to elect the Pope by an absolute majority instead of a two-thirds majority. The maximum number of Cardinal Electors allowed at any one time is 120.

And no, I'm not Catholic.

Answer 6

Every new pope is chosen by a vote of the all the Cardinals. The process is steeped in tradition and secrecy...the cardinals go into seclusion at the vatican and they don't come out until they've officially elected the new Pope.
There is a method of smoke signals to let those outside the Vatican know how it progresses...determined by the color of the smoke being white or black.

Answer 7

May I add a little precision:
Not all Cardinals vote nowadays. JP2 changed the rule and added an age limit. So all the Cardinals can participate in the conclave (the name of the Cardinal get-together) but the oldest ones do not vote.

I am not sure of the age limit value, probably because I am not Catholic but pastafarian from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Answer 8

Cardinals are called to Rome. Locked up & then vote for the next pope. If the votes are in conclusive the papers are burnt to produce black smoke.
When ballot is resolved & new pope elected the papers are burnt & white somke is produced to signify to the world there is a new pope.

Answer 9

All of the world's Catholic Cardinals convine at The Vatican in Rome, Italy and vote, by secret ballot, for a new Pope.

Answer 10

Why do I have to be Catholic to know that Cardinals choose the Pope?