Pope Francis has passed away at 88, and soon, the world will turn its attention to Vatican City for one of the most sacred and secretive traditions in the Catholic Church — the election of a new pope. Veuer’s Maria Mercedes Galuppo has the story.
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00:00Pope Francis has passed away at 88, and soon the world will turn its attention to Vatican City for one of the most sacred and secretive traditions in the Catholic Church, the election of a new pope.
00:11This process is called a papal conclave, where up to 136 cardinal electors gather inside the Sistine Chapel.
00:18They take an oath of secrecy, seal the doors, and begin casting their votes, up to four times a day.
00:24To choose a new pope, one candidate must receive a two-thirds majority. Until that happens, the world looks to the sky above the Vatican for a simple signal.
00:33Smoke. Black smoke means no decision has been made. White smoke means a new pope has been chosen.
00:40The smoke comes from a cast-iron stove inside the chapel, and the color is controlled by adding chemical mixtures to the burning ballots.
00:47Once a candidate is selected, the senior cardinal deacon announces a bemus papam.
00:52We have a pope, and the new leader of the Catholic Church steps onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
00:58The conclave usually begins 15 to 20 days after the pope's passing, giving time for funeral rites and global leaders to pay their respects.