How will the next Pope choose? When the black smoke turns into white…. Explained

Pope Francis died at the age of 88 after a long illness. The Vatican confirmed the news on Monday, 21 April. The process of choice of the next Pope will begin with the death of Pope Francis, who became the Pope in 2013. So this question must be coming in your mind how the next Pope is chosen. To know the answer, we have to know who are the pope and what is the college of cardinals? We will also learn about Pope Francis in this explanner.

Who are the pope?

Actually the Pope comes out of a Greek word- Pappas. It means ‘father or father’. Simply put, the Pope is the leader of the Catholic Church worldwide. The scripture of Christians was the first Pope St. Peter to work as the head of the church according to the Bible.

Who is Pope Francis?

Pope Francis was also special in the case that he was the first Pope coming from the American continent. He was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. By the way, he got the name George Mario Bergoglio at birth. He was born homes of immigrants from Italy to Argentina. When he became the Pope, he chose Francis, inspired by St. Francis of the Italian city of Assisi. St. Francis was known for his humility and dedication to the service of the poor. In March 2013, Pope Francis was selected as the Pope. With this, he became the first pope coming from America.

What is a college of cardinals?

Cardinals are bishops and Vatican officers coming from all over the world. They are personally chosen by the Pope. They are identified with their special red clothes. The group of these cardinals is called the college of cardinals.

How is the Pope chosen?

Then how will the next pope of the question be chosen. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s website, after any reason the Pope’s post is vacant, Cardinal holds a meeting one after the other in Vatican City. This meeting is called general congregation. In these meetings, they discuss the needs and challenges faced by the Catholic Church globally. At the same time, they also prepare for the election of the next Pope, which is called Conclave. Meanwhile, such decisions that can only take the pope, such as the appointment of a bishop or calling a bishop’s Dharm Sabha, is awaited till after the election. In such a meeting itself, arrangements are made for the funeral of the dead Pope and to bury them.

These cardinals only conduct secret votes for the Pope’s election. They put twice turned ballot paper in a big bowl. Until a candidate gets two-thirds of the votes, four rounds of voting are held every day. The results of each round are counted vigorously and three cardinals that become recorders record them. If someone does not get the required two-thirds of the votes, the ballot paper is burnt in a stove near the chapel and they are burnt in a chemical that produces black smoke.

White smoke is produced to indicate the choice of new Pope

When a single cardinal gets the necessary two-thirds of the votes, the Dean of the Cardinals College asks him if he accepts his election in the post of Pope. If he accepts, he chooses a pope name for himself. Then Pope’s dress is worn before going to the balcony of St. Peter Basilica. The final round ballot paper is burnt with a chemical that produces white smoke to indicate the choice of the new Pope to the world.
Finally, Senior Cardinal Decan announces from the balcony of St. Peter that ‘Hebemus Papam’ means we have got the pope. After this, the Pope comes out and gives his blessings to the whole world including the city of Rome.

ALSO READ: How to become George of Argentina became the biggest religious leader of Christians, know the full story of Pope Francis

ALSO READ: Your country, political leader with religious .. Learn how a different pope from other religious leaders