The cardinal electors will invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit, keeping in mind the welfare of the Catholic Church and the world.

* * *

A cardinal was once asked that the election in 1978 did not seem to be guided by the Holy Spirit because when Cardinal Albino Luciano became Pope John Paul I, he reigned only for 33 days!

The cardinal replied that on the contrary the Holy Spirit worked. The brief reign was His way of telling the cardinals they needed to break the Italian monopoly and elect a non-Italian as pope!

* * *

On April 18, 2005, the 117 cardinal will be "locked up" in the ornate Sistine Chapel for the conclave to elect the new pope under the veil of strict secrecy.

Conclave comes from the Latin words "cum clave," which literally means "with key." It refers to the "locking up" of the cardinal electors within the duration of the election.

* * *

It is said that this "locking up" ensued due to a historical precedent in 1271 when it took two years and nine months (1268-1271) before a pope was elected.

The pope who was elected then, Gregory X, initiated reforms, one of which was "locking up" the cardinals in closed quarters and gradually decreasing food supply in order to force an early decision.

* * *

As the election process starts, the cardinals are required to maintain strict secrecy regarding every aspect of the conclave. In fact, the cardinal-electors take several oaths of secrecy during the preparatory meetings and within the sealed conclave.

They are forbidden to send or receive any messages outside the confines of Vatican City, upon pain of excommunication.

* * *

According to the Apostolic Constitution of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, "Universi Dominici Gregis" published on February 22, 1996, there is only one form of election allowed which is known as per scrutinium, meaning, by scrutiny.

Two-thirds majority vote of the electors present is required for the election.

When no such majority is reached, another election is conducted, until the majority number is reached.

* * *

After the ballots have been counted and strung together, and the count verified and announced, the ballots are burned in a special stove just off the Sistine Chapel.

When the vote has not produced a winner, it is burned with a chemical (in previous days, wet straw) that makes the smoke black; when a decision has been reached, the ballots are burned with a chemical (in previous days, dry straw) that makes the smoke white. The white smoke, sfumata in Italian, is the sign that a new pope has been elected.

* * *

The first acts of the newly elected pope are to state his willingness to accept the canonical election and then choose a new name.

The newly elected pontiff is then whisked away into the socalled Room of Tears, to be vested with the papal robes. Shortly afterwards, he returns to the Sistine Chapel to greet the dean of the college of cardinals, then the camerlengo (chamberlain), then each of the cardinal-electors.

* * *

Finally, the newly elected pope is presented to the people of Rome, and the world, and to offer his benediction upon them from the balcony of the Hall of Benedictions.

In the presentation of the new pope, the cardinal deacon recites the Latin formula: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum (I announce to you a great joy). Habemus papam (We have a pope)! Eminentissimum act Reveren-dissimum Dominum, Dominum (His Most Eminent and Reverend Lord, Lord [here the baptismal or first name of the one elected]…Sanctae Romanae Ecclesia Cardinalem (Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church [here the surname])… qui sibi nomen imposuit (who has chose for himself the name of [here the new papal name])…

* * *

After the new Roman pontiff is presented, he bestows his apostolic blessing Urbi et Orbi, that is, upon "the City and the World."

And the crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Square bursts in applause and cheers saying, "Viva Il Papa!"

* * *

CARDINAL SIN. When Karol Cardinal Wojtyla was elected pope on October 16, 1978, it was our own Cardinal Sin who summoned the new Pontiff by opening the sealed doors of the conclave.

Cardinal Sin played the distinct role since, as provided in the apostolic constitution for electing popes, the youngest cardinal was to do that role.

* * *

Cardinal Sin who was appointed cardinal on May 24, 1976, was the youngest at 48. So, he was officially called "junior cardinal deacon" assigned to open the doors of the conclave.

It is good that the witty cardinal did not say a word when he opened the doors because when he welcomed visitors to his residence, he customarily said: "Welcome to the House of Sin!"