The influence of John Paul II will be present in more ways than one at the conclave that meets in the Sistine Chapel 15-20 days after the Apostolic See becomes vacant. Firstly, almost all the cardinals present were appointed by him. Secondly, all rules that govern the conclave were revised by John Paul II in 1996 in the document Universi Dominci Gregis. Thirdly, thanks to John Paul II, instead of being lodged in the traditional, uncomfortable accommodation close to the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals will live in the modern purpose-built quarters of S. Marta on the other side of St Peter’s Square. However, two important factors will still be the same as at the last conclave: there will be fewer cardinals from Europe than from the rest of the world, and there will be more cardinals from Italy than from any other country.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR VOTING?

All cardinals under 80 the day before the Apostolic See becomes vacant take part in the conclave. They must be present in Rome and can only be excused from the con-clave for health reasons. They can in theory elect any Roman Catholic male as the new pope; if he is not already a bishop, then he must be consecrated before he is officially presented to the waiting world. All the elector cardinals are sworn to secrecy about everything that happens during the conclave and they may not talk to anyone not involved in the electoral process until after the election. They vote once on the first day, after Mass in St Peter’s basilica, and then twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon until they obtain a two-thirds majority. If the number of elector cardinals is not divisible into three equal parts, then one addition-al vote is required. If this number is not obtained for the first 13 ballots, voting stops for a day of prayer and reflection. It then continues for another 21 ballots, with a day’s pause between every seven voting sessions. At this stage if the cardinals have still failed to achieve a two-thirds majority they can decide on one of three options: to continue until they reach the two-thirds majority, to vote by simple majority, or to vote for the two candidates who obtained the highest number of votes in the previous voting session. After every morning and afternoon session the ballot papers are burnt in a special stove. If the cardinals have not elected the new pope, the papers are treated so that the smoke emerging from the chimney, visible in St Peter’s Square, is black. If the pontiff has been elected the smoke will be white.

THE NEW POPE

The man who is elected must first accept to serve as pope. He must then choose hi papal name. After this he is robed in white (the special pontifical tailor Gammarelli will have prepared a small a medium and a large papal outfit to fit any size) and presented with his new name to the waiting crowds in St Peter’s Square from the central balcony above the entrance into the basilica. Here he gives his first apostolic blessing, Urbi et Orbi. His first official function outside the Vatican is to take pos-session of his church, St John Lateran, as bishop of Rome.