Is it “Pope Francis” or “Pope Francis I”? was written by Kristan Siegel on Electing the Pope

Are all the cardinals eligible to vote? was written by Kristan Siegel on Electing the Pope

Not since St. Peter, yes that St. Peter, has there been a non-European Pope. Wait, that sounds so cool but is it correct?

No, it’s not correct.

Scanning some pope lists one will find many non-European Popes from the distant past. Max Fisher of the Washington Post counted the following:

• Saint Peter: Bethsaida, modern-day Israel(33 – 64 A.D.)
• Pope Saint Evaristus: Bethlehem, modern-day West Bank (97 – 105)
• Pope Saint Anicetus: Emesa (today known as Homs), Syria (155 – 166)
• Pope Saint Victor I: Leptis Magna, modern-day Libya (189 – 199)
• Pope Saint Miltiades: Somewhere in North Africa (311 – 314)
• Pope Theodore I: Jerusalem, modern-day Israel and West Bank (642 – 649)
• Pope John V: Antioch, then Syria but today part of Turkey (685 – 686)
• Pope Sisinnius: Syria (708)
• Pope Constantine: Syria (708 – 715)
• Pope Gregory III: Syria (731 – 741)

That makes Pope Francis the 11th non-European Pope and there may be others. So, no, not the first, however, Argentinian Jorge Bergoglio, a.k.a. His Holiness Pope Francis, is the first pope elected from the Americas specifically, and that is not insignificant as the Catholic growth boom is happening outside of North America in Latin America and Africa. It is reported that 39% of the world’s Catholics come from Latin American and the Caribbean. Here’s a link to a lovely chart laying out those stats from the Pew Forum.

A National Post article notes,

A stunned-looking Bergoglio shyly waved to the crowd of tens of thousands of people who gathered in St. Peter’s Square, marvelling that the cardinals had had to look to “the end of the earth” to find a bishop of Rome.

[Image Source: Photo By Mary Wisniewski  via Reuters]

Has there ever been a non-European Pope? was written by Owen Swain on Electing the Pope

The Vatican elaborated:

Who doesn’t know Francis of Assisi, who abandoned everything from wealth and prestige and who became poor himself,” Vatican deputy spokesman the Rev. Thomas Rosica said Wednesday, explaining how the saint inspired Pope Francis’ name.

“Francis of Assisi is a great, great figure in the church but known especially for connecting with fellow Christians and many people outside the Christian family,” Rosica said.

Although observers of the balcony introduction of Pope Francis wondered if he chose the name of fellow Jesuit St. Francis Xavier, instead the Pope chose the founding saint of the sometime-rival Franciscan order.  The name choice reflects the new Pope’s history of simplicity and dedication to the poor in his home of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

[updated] At his papacy first news conference, Pope Francis informally explained the story behind how he chose his name:will likely clarify the significance of St. Francis of Assisi to him.

Some people wanted to know why the Bishop of Rome wished to be called Francis.  Some thought of Francis Xavier, Francis De Sales, and also Francis of Assisi.  I will tell you the story.  During the election, I was seated next to the Archbishop Emeritus of São Paolo and Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes: a good friend, a good friend!  When things were looking dangerous, he encouraged me.  And when the votes reached two thirds, there was the usual applause, because the Pope had been elected.  And he gave me a hug and a kiss, and said: “Don’t forget the poor!”  And those words came to me: the poor, the poor.  Then, right away, thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi.  Then I thought of all the wars, as the votes were still being counted, till the end.  Francis is also the man of peace.  That is how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi.  For me, he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation; these days we do not have a very good relationship with creation, do we?  He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man … How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor! Afterwards, people were joking with me.  “But you should call yourself Hadrian, because Hadrian VI was the reformer, we need a reform…”  And someone else said to me: “No, no: your name should be Clement”.  “But why?”  “Clement XV: thus you pay back Clement XIV who suppressed the Society of Jesus!”  These were jokes.  – source

Which St. Francis inspired the name chosen by Pope Francis? was written by Nancy Ewing on Electing the Pope

Via News.Va, his first words as pope:

Brothers and sisters good evening.
You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have come almost to the ends of the earth to get him… but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome.
First of all I would say a prayer pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI.. Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord bless him and Our Lady protect him.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory to the Father…
And now let us begin this journey, the Bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood . My hope is that this journey of the Church that we begin today, together with help of my Cardinal Vicar, be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.
And now I would like to give the blessing, but first I want to ask you a favour. Before the bishop blesses the people I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me – the prayer of the people for their Bishop. Let us say this prayer – your prayer for me – in silence.
[The Protodeacon announced that all those who received the blessing, either in person or by radio, television or by the new means of communication receive the plenary indulgence in the form established by the Church. He prayed that Almighty God protect and guard the Pope so that he may lead the Church for many years to come, and that he would grant peace to the Church throughout the world.]
[Immediately afterwards Pope Francis gave his first blessing Urbi et Orbi – To the City and to the World.]
I will now give my blessing to you and to the whole world, to all men and women of good will.
Brothers and sisters, I am leaving you. Thank you for your welcome. Pray for me and I will be with you again soon.
We will see one another soon.
Tomorrow I want to go to pray the Madonna, that she may protect Rome.
Good night and sleep well!

Learn more about Pope Francis at News.va.

Who is the new pope? was written by Dorian Speed on Electing the Pope

From the code of Canon Law, Canon 332 §1:

The Roman Pontiff acquires full and supreme power in the Church when, together with episcopal consecration, he has been lawfully elected and has accepted the election. 

Accordingly, if he already has the episcopal character, he receives this power from the moment he accepts election to the supreme pontificate. If he does not have the episcopal character, he is immediately to be ordained Bishop.

Three conditions must be fulfilled for the man to become the pontiff:

1. he has been lawfully elected
2. he has been ordained a bishop (that’s what it means to have “episcopal character”)
3. he has accepted the election

The moment all three conditions are fulfilled — and not before — the man whom the cardinals have elected becomes the new Pope.

Until someone accepts the position, the See is still vacant… and the conclave continues.

Can a man who is chosen by the cardinals to become Pope decline the position? was written by Erin Arlinghaus on Electing the Pope

Short Answer:

If no candidate gets two-thirds of the votes in the papal election, they try and try and try again.  That is, the cardinals keep voting until one candidate does receive at least two-thirds of the votes, no matter how many ballots it takes.

Detail:

Pope Benedict XVI changed the rules to require a two-thirds vote

The rules governing the papal election are spelled out in Pope John Paul II’s 1996 Apostolic Constitution Universi Domenici Gregis, as amended by Pope Benedict in 2007 and 2013.

In 2007, and in the 2013 Motu Proprio, written just days before his resignation took effect, Pope Benedict XVI made it absolutely clear that the papal election must be won with at least two thirds of the votes cast.  This is a change from the 1996 rules which had permitted election by a majority vote if the cardinals had reached stalemate after 30 rounds of balloting with no candidate receiving two-thirds of the votes.

After 30 ballots the cardinals can narrow the field to the two top candidates

Each day of the conclave the cardinals cast 4 ballots; two rounds of voting in the morning, two in the afternoon, with the exception of the first day when there is just one vote.  After three days (9 ballots) of voting with no result, the election is suspended for no longer than a day, and the cardinals have an opportunity to pray and hear an address by one of the cardinals.  Then the voting recommences.  A similar break is taken after 7 more rounds of ballots, and this process is repeated after another 7 ballots and a further 7 ballots.

At that point, after 30 ballots with no result, the cardinals are permitted to agree that the election be limited to the two candidates receiving the most votes in the immediately preceding ballot.  Those two candidates are not allowed to cast votes.  In the next rounds of balloting, where the previous rules allowed a majority vote to win, the new rules promulgated by Pope Benedict require the voting to continue until one of the two candidates receives two thirds of the vote.

What do they do if no candidate gets two-thirds of the votes in the papal election? was written by Nancy Ewing on Electing the Pope

How is the pope elected? was written by Dorian Speed on Electing the Pope

He is immediately ushered out of the Sistine Chapel to a small adjoining room that houses his new papal robes. It has been given the title “The Room of Tears” presumably because of the intense emotion the election and the weight of the office carries. He walks into the room as a cardinal and out as a pope.

After he is dressed, the new Pope returns to the Sistine Chapel where each of the electors offers a sign of homage and obedience.

An act of thanksgiving to God is then made, then the senior cardinal deacon steps onto the balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica and announces in Latin, “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum! Habemus papam.” (I have news of great joy! We have a pope.)

The cardinal then reveals the Pope’s identity, inserting his new name, all in Latin, “Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum {cardinal’s forename} Cardinalem Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae {cardinal’s surname} qui sibi nomen imposuit {new Pope’s name}.” (The most eminent and most reverend lord, lord {cardinal’s forname} cardinal of the Holy Roman church {cardinal’s surname} has taken upon himself the name {new Pope’s name}.)

After this comes a new addition to the schedule: the new Pope goes to the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Chapel to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  After a brief time of prayer the Pope is then led to the balcony, introduced to the faithful and delivers his first “urbi et orbi” (“to the city and the world”) blessing to the city of Rome and the world, in his first official appearance.

Where does a cardinal go, and what does he do, after election but before his announcement as Pope? was written by Kathryn Whitaker on Electing the Pope

Tuesday March 12, first day of conclave:

The cardinal electors may vote once in the first session, but it is optional.
If they vote, smoke should appear 7- 8pm (Rome) [2-3pm EDT]
Fr. Lombardi of the Vatican press office will try to report if the cardinals leave the Sistine Chapel without voting.

Wednesday, March 13 and voting days following*

The cardinal electors attend two sessions per day, morning and afternoon, with two rounds of voting in each session.  The ballots are burned at the end of each session, that is, after each two rounds of balloting.  But if there is a successful election on the first ballot of the morning or afternoon, the ballots are burned immediately after that vote.

The smoke should appear:

morning session -

• around noon (Rome) [7am EDT] – black smoke if no pope, white if successful vote.
• If the pope is elected on the first morning ballot white smoke will appear 10:30 – 11am (Rome) [5:30 - 6am EDT]

afternoon session -

• around 7 pm [2 pm EDT] – black smoke if no pope, white if successful vote
• If the pope is elected on the first afternoon ballot white smoke will appear 5:30 – 6 pm [12:30 - 1 pm EDT]

*there are designated breaks from voting on specified days after several rounds of unsuccessful ballots

+++

where to watch for smoke:

• online livestream of a camera pointed at Sistine Chapel chimney -  http://www.romereports.com/palio/modules.php?name=Content3&pa=showpage&newlang=english&pid=47#.UT4XGVeJegH
• pope alarm – if you can’t watch, you can sign up to get notice as soon as the smoke appears, via email, text, or both: popealarm.com provided by FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students)
• follow @ConclaveChimney or @PapalSmokestack on twitter

What times should I be watching for smoke from the Vatican chimney? was written by Nancy Ewing on Electing the Pope