Predict the Selection Date

[MelK]

Ok, now that the Pope has died, a new Pope will be selected. Predict the date they will sucessfully pick a new Pope (it takes a 2/3 vote from the college of cardinals to win)

Also, will they pick a frontrunner or a dark horse candidate? (There are 3 frontrunners I think, one Italian, one African, one Central American)

[Momo]

Dates are screwed up. If i remember correctly Conclave can't start until 15 days minimum and 20 days maximum after teh pope dies.

[Dynasty]

Am I right in assuming there has never been a non-white Pope?

Has there ever been a non-European Pope?

An African/Black or Hispanic Pope would really shake some people up.

[STLantny]

It wont last that long, after they start the process, becasue they started the tradition of cutting off food after so many days.

[Lazymeatball]

so who fulfills all the papal duties until they find a successor? Is there a vice-pope or something?

[MelK]

Well, before JPII every Pope was Italian going back about 450 years, so it is doubtful there were any non-Europeans (and if there were they came from the non-European Mediteranean area).

[jstnrgrs]

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It wont last that long, after they start the process, becasue they started the tradition of cutting off food after so many days.

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But there is a new rule this time that after 30 or 40 votes the requirement for election drops to a simple majority. This could create a long conclave since some may want to hold out untill that time.

[MelK]

This article answers your question and some others on this selection process:

Cardinals to choose new pope (http://icharrow.icnetwork.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=15360547&method=full&siteid=50102&head line=cardinals-to-choose-new-pope-name_page.html)


It is now the duty of 120 cardinals to decide who will head the millions of Catholics around the globe.

The influential College of Cardinals must now meet in Rome and choose the next Pope in a voting tradition that dates back almost 1,000 years.

John Paul II revised the procedures in 1996 and among the changes was the instruction that his successor can be elected by a simple two-thirds majority.

In the meantime, the Camerlengo, or chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, becomes an interim administrator, whose first job it is to decide the pope is dead in the presence of the Papal Master of Ceremonies and other key members of the Papal Household.

Traditionally, this is done by tapping the Pope on the forehead with a silver hammer and calling out his baptismal name three times. However, the Cardinal is more likely to rely on doctors.

The silver hammer would then be used to smash the Pope's Fisherman's Ring, to make sure no instructions can be given under his seal.

The Cardinal Vicar for Rome is then informed and he confirms the death to Rome and the world.

The chamberlain then arranges for the body to be removed and locks up the pontiff's apartment at the Vatican to safeguard his possessions.

Nine days of official mourning are declared and the burial usually takes place in St Peter's Basilica between the fourth and sixth day.

Since 1059, the selection of the next head of the Catholic church has been reserved to the College of Cardinals, whose members are appointed by the Pope.

[Brainwalter]

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Has there ever been a non-European Pope?

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Pius XIII was born in Bakerville (Marshfield), Wisconsin, USA

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(From some other site)

Almost sure they were all white though.