How is a cardinal appointed

Dioceses that normally have cardinals are finding that they no longer do. And red hats birettas and capes are being distributed in some unexpected places. Most people probably already know that cardinals elect the pope, but that job is actually one that they are rarely called upon to perform. Their primary responsibility is to serve as advisors and assistants to the pope as he completes his duties as supreme pastor.

Whatever else a cardinal may be doing as head of a diocese or as chief of a Vatican congregation , he is always available to the pontiff. According to the Code of Canon Law, a cardinal remains at the service of the pope both personally and as a member of the College of Cardinals, which may be summoned by the pope for particular needs.

Like Chicago, there are archdioceses throughout the world whose archbishops are traditionally appointed cardinals, but the pope has final authority in this regard. 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? There are currently cardinals from 69 countries. The rules of the Conclave were changed in to exclude all cardinals over the age of 80 from voting.

The maximum number of cardinal electors is During the forthcoming Conclave, there will be cardinal-electors: they have to be younger than 80 to be eligible to vote, but Cardinal Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, the 78 year-old Archbishop Emeritus of Jakarta, has ruled himself out of travelling to Rome due to the "progressive deterioration" of his vision.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien - Britain's most senior Catholic cleric - has also been ruled out of the voting after his resignation over allegations of inappropriate conduct. Normally the Dean of the College of Cardinals would be responsible for the convoking the Conclave. However, as the Dean, Italian Cardinal Angelo Sodano, is 85 and too old to vote, the senior cardinal-elector, Giovanni Battista Re, takes on the responsibility.

About half 60 are European, and 21 are Italian. During the time between the Pope's resignation and the election of his successor, the college of cardinals will govern the Church, headed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, as the cardinal camerlengo - or chamberlain. It is his job to supervise the whole election process, with secret votes being held four times daily inside the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

During the Conclave, cardinals reside within the Vatican and are not permitted any contact with the outside world. During this period all the cardinals - retirees included - will begin to discuss in strict secrecy the merits of likely candidates. The cardinals do not have to choose one of their own number - theoretically any baptised male Catholic can be elected pope - but tradition says that they will almost certainly give the job to a cardinal.

The Vatican talks about the cardinals being guided by the Holy Spirit. But although open campaigning is forbidden, a papal election is still a highly political process. The coalition-builders have about two weeks to forge alliances and senior cardinals who may themselves have little chance of becoming pope can still exert a considerable influence over the others. Secret conclave. The election of a pope is conducted in conditions of secrecy unique in the modern world.

The title cardinal is given to members of the College of Cardinals. The appointment is made by the pope, and his most notable role will be to serve as a papal elector. With the most recent appointments, there will be about voting age cardinals worldwide.