papal succession
New pope chosen
Papal succession is the process by which a new pope assumes leadership of the Roman Catholic Church after the previous pope dies or resigns.
The College of Cardinals elects the successor in a conclave, continuing an unbroken line that Catholics trace back to Saint Peter: The cardinal emerged as the leading candidate in the papal succession.
- conclavePrivate, secretive assembly
- papal conclaveCardinal election of pontiff
- cardinalsPope-electing prelates or finches
- white smokeVatican election success indicator
- black smokeSooty airborne combustion byproduct
empty throne · ring · Sistine Chapel · Swiss Guard · College of Cardinals · papal election · Holy See · fisherman · canon law · ballots · smoke · papal bull · ex cathedra · keys · bells · scrutiny · Vatican · St. Peter's Basilica
papal successionpopular vote
Total of citizen votes
general election · universal suffrage · plebiscite · referendum · primary election
papal successioncoup d'état
Violent government seizure
violent overthrow · revolution · usurpation · schism · overthrow