Can someone explain how does it work? How are the cardinals come to position and are they the only ones voting? And is the voting open or close? Who gets to be on the ballot?
Re: The Catholic Hierarchy
The cardinals are appointed by the pope, I believe.
They are the only ones voting.
The voting is closed.
Any cardinal nominated by other cardinals gets to be on the ballot. A 2/3 majority is required.
If two attempts at a 2/3 majority fail to produce a winner, then a simple majority is all that is required.
Re: The Catholic Hierarchy
So, cardinals are picked from the bishops? Is there an age restriction or any other qualifications or years of service?
Also, is the voting closed to public or is it closed among the cardinals too? In other words those who are nominated know who voted for them or they don't?
How many names can be presented?
From the news, it seems most people likely to be pope are already in their late 60s, early 70s but that would mean Catholics will have to elect another pope in a couple of decades again. Why not go for a younger one?
Re: The Catholic Hierarchy
admadjee - I am not 100% on the questions but I am looking them up to be definite. The only one I can answer is the reason the last one for right now. It takes that long to prove yourself in the Catholic church. They have to be absolutely sure that the person who is the image of the Catholic religion is one that will not tarnish it and has the wisdom to make the right decisions.
Re: The Catholic Hierarchy
I don't believe that there are no limits to who can be a cardinal, but as a general rule of thumb that promotion only gets achived by people who have served the Church for a very long time and have long, established reputations for clerical excellence..
The voting is closed amongst the cardinals. No one at all knows who voted for who, and after ballets have been counted they voting slips are all burnt so that no one knows who voted for who.
It's not normal for a Pope to serve as long as Jean Paul II has. When you consider that over 260 Popes have served in under 2000 years, the average length of a term is supposed to be under 10 years.
The elderly clerics are chosen I guess, because they have the greatest wisdom of years.
Re: The Catholic Hierarchy
Before Pope John Paul II the church lost a number of Popes in quick succession. I think they then went for a younger Pope not knowing how long and influential reign he would have. I think they will now go for a much older man (maybe 75+) with the possibility of selecting another one in say 3-5 years time. There is quite a lot of religious politiking going on in the selection of Popes. A number of influencial Cardinals might lose their influence/positions with the wrong selection now. (Exactly why John Paul II got the job as a relative outsider then as a safe choice as some thought mistakenly). Some 3 to 5 years will give the Cardinals a chance to plan/posture themselves better while the Pope will not have enough time to make major changes as John Paul II did.
Re: The Catholic Hierarchy
Your guess is as good as anyone’s.
Would be interested in what bookmakers are predicting/betting !