The rules for Papal election in brief

March 9, 2013: According to art. 35 of Apostolic Constitution ‘Universi Dominici Gregis’ (UDG) and confirmed by last Motu Proprio issued by Pope Benedict XVI February 25, 2013 "No Cardinal elector can be excluded from both active and passive for no reason or excuse" without prejudice to the prescriptions of UDG. The art. 40 specifies, among other things, that a waiver "must be accepted by the College of Cardinals" and "can be for health reasons or proven serious impediment".

The obligations of the voters (and the staff involved in various capacities in the voting), the Apostolic Constitution of Pope John Paul II insists on the need to ensure the secrecy of what will happen in the Conclave and is directly or indirectly related to the election of the Pope. The document lists in detail all the precautions to ensure confidentiality and to avoid external interference. The Cardinals cannot in any way disclose to any other person information in the Conclave.

"The task of preparing what is necessary to ensure the confidentiality and regularity of the election belongs to the College of Cardinals" working under the authority and responsibility of the Camerlengo "with" help from outside the Deputy Secretary of State"

The phases of the voting: after the Mass pro eligendo Pontifice in the morning, the solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel. The first stage of the election (pre-poll) includes the preparation of the tabs, the extraction of the scrutinizers, the Infirmarii and auditors;

The second phase is the poll: deposition of the ballot box, count, count the votes. (With regard to the ballot, it has a rectangular shape. At the top, possibly printed, appear the words: 'Eligo in Summum Pontificem'. In the lower half the cardinal writes the name of the elect. Compilation of the ballots must be made secretly by each cardinal elector writing clearly the name of the person he chooses.

The third stage is the post-election, which includes: 1) the counting of the votes, and 2) their control, and 3) the burning of cards. At least two thirds of the votes required for valid election. The cardinal electors present in the conclave should have been 117, but they will be 115, because Cardinal Darmaatmadja is sick, and Cardinal O'Brien is absent after his resignation on 25 February. The majority required will therefore be equal to 77 votes.

"Habemus Papam"
The cardinal proto-deacon is responsible to announce the successful election of the Pope reciting the famous phrase Habemus Papam, also imposes the pallium to the new Pope during Mass at the start of his Pontificate. The Pallium, woven wool of lambs and sheep, bears imprinted with five red crosses, representing the wounds of Christ and three pins, one for each nail of the crucifixion.

The current Cardinal Proto deacon, 21 February 2011, is the card. Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.