Picking an unlikely one from the distant papal past - for example, Hilarus or Zephyrinus - would send Catholics scurrying to their history books to see what it could mean. But one harking back to modern popes - Benedict or John Paul or John - would signal right away the new leader of 1. The name has a progressive ring because the last to choose it, Leo XIII, helped adapt the Church to modern thinking about the industrial age during his papacy from to It argued that both communism and capitalism were flawed and that the state must work for the common good of all its citizens.
The name will first be heard when a fellow cardinal emerges on the balcony of St. Pius, last used by Pius XII from to , would signal a staunch conservative while John, which recalls his successor John XXIII from to , could refer either to a compassionate pastor or a reformer.
John XXIII was a jovial type who convened the Second Vatican Council that led to some reforms the last two popes rejected and devoted their papacies to reining in. If no one receives the necessary two-thirds of the vote, the ballots are burned in a stove near the chapel with a mixture of chemicals to produce black smoke.
When a cardinal receives the necessary two-thirds vote, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him if he accepts his election. If he accepts, he chooses a papal name and is dressed in papal vestments before processing out to the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The ballots of the final round are burned with chemicals producing white smoke to signal to the world the election of a new pope. Peter's "Habemus Papam" "We have a pope" before the new pope processes out and imparts his blessing on the city of Rome and the entire world.
How Is a New Pope Chosen? Click here to launch the PDF document full screen. Experience the richness of your faith What will you discover? The cardinal dean asks the elected pope two questions:. If the elected pope accepts, the master of papal liturgical celebrations certifies the acceptance by the new pope, as well as the pope's choice of name.
The elected person immediately becomes the bishop of Rome, which gives him supreme power of the Catholic Church. Each cardinal elector then approaches the newly elected pope to pay homage and show his obedience to the pope. After an election, it is tradition for the oldest cardinal in conclave to step to the balcony above St. Peter's Square and announce, "Habemus papam," which means "We have a new pope. Once his inauguration is over, the new pope begins the day-to-day duties of papal responsibility.
As spiritual leader of the world's largest religious following, and as the Vatican's head of state, the pope's responsibilities are vast. Here are just a few of his duties and activities:. The role of pope has evolved greatly in 2, years. At one time, the pope crowned emperors and carried military power. Today, the pope's secular power and duties are diminished, but the position still carries great spiritual influence as the leader of the world's largest religious sect.
For more information on the papacy, the Catholic Church and related topics, check out the links below. As the newly elected pope accepts his new role, it is tradition for him to select a new name.
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