Shillong, May 7: As the Catholic Church prepares to elect its 267th Pope, the eyes of the faithful turn to the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on Wednesday (May 7), where 133 cardinal electors will gather behind closed doors for the secretive and sacred process known as the conclave. Rooted in centuries-old tradition and guided by the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, the conclave is a carefully orchestrated ritual that blends solemn liturgy, procedural precision, and spiritual discernment.

The Ritual begins

Each cardinal elector is given two or three rectangular ballots, the top half of which reads Eligo in Summum Pontificem (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”), with space below to write the name of their chosen candidate. Before voting begins, all non-electors — including secretaries, liturgical officials, and ceremonial aides — are ordered to leave. The doors of the Sistine Chapel are then sealed by the senior cardinal deacon, who controls entry and exit.

Next, by drawing lots, the cardinal deacon appoints nine officials: three scrutineers (vote counters), three infirmarii (to assist sick electors), and three revisers (to verify the results). If any selected cannot serve, replacements are immediately drawn.

Casting the Vote

Voting proceeds in strict order of precedence. Each cardinal writes the name of their chosen candidate on the ballot, folds it, raises it visibly, and walks to the altar. There, he declares aloud in Italian: “I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one whom I believe should be elected according to God.” He then drops the folded ballot into a chalice placed atop the altar and returns to his seat. Sick cardinals unable to walk may entrust their ballots to a scrutineer to be cast on their behalf.

For those too ill to attend at all, the three infirmarii bring sealed ballots and a locked box to their quarters. After collecting the votes, they return to the chapel, where the box is unlocked and the ballots are added to the main count.

Counting the Votes

Once all ballots are collected, they are mixed, counted, and verified. Any discrepancy between the number of ballots and electors leads to an immediate annulment and revote. When the tally matches, the ballots are opened. The three scrutineers read, confirm, and record each name aloud.

If two ballots appear to be written by the same hand and bear the same name, they count as one vote. If the names differ, both are invalidated, but the round remains valid. Once all votes are read, each ballot is pierced through the word Eligo and threaded together with string, tied in a knot, and preserved.

The Magic Number: 89

To be elected Pope, a cardinal must secure a two-thirds majority — at least 89 votes in this conclave. After each round, the revisers check the count for accuracy. Regardless of outcome, all ballots are then burned in the chapel’s cast-iron stove, first used in 1939.

A second stove, connected to a chimney visible from St. Peter’s Square, produces the iconic smoke signals: black for an inconclusive vote, white for a successful election. If two votes are held in a session, ballots from both rounds are burned together.

Spiritual Pauses and Final Rounds

Voting takes place four times daily — two rounds in the morning and two in the afternoon. If no Pope is elected after three days, the conclave pauses for a day of prayer and reflection, guided by an exhortation from the senior cardinal deacon. This cycle of voting and reflection continues every seven rounds, with future exhortations given by the senior cardinal priest and then bishop.

If the process reaches 21 unsuccessful rounds, voting is restricted to the two candidates who received the most votes in the last ballot. Even then, they cannot vote for themselves, and a two-thirds majority remains necessary.

The “Room of Tears”

Once a cardinal secures the required majority and accepts his election, he is escorted to the “Room of Tears” — a small chamber adjacent to the Sistine Chapel. There, he dons the white cassock and steps out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the world as the new Holy Father.

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