How many current cardinals are there

Of the four, all but Cardinal Toppo are cardinal electors, meaning they would be able to vote for or become the next Pope if a conclave were held today. From the s, the College has become increasingly less Eurocentric, and has added members from countries having Catholic populations but which had never been represented in the past.

This trend has continued during the papacy of Francis, who has appointed 57 per cent of the current cardinal electors, many of them hailing from far-flung nations. Since Francis took office in , the share of Europeans among cardinal electors has fallen from 52 per cent to 42 per cent, Pew Research data show. Yet, the Asia-Pacific region, home to 12 per cent of Catholics worldwide and of which India is a part, has seen its representation rise from nine to 15 per cent in the past 7 years.

The most underrepresented part of the world is Latin America and the Caribbean, where 39 per cent of all Catholics live, and which has seen its presence only slightly rise from 17 to 19 per cent during the same period. Archbishop of Manila , Philippines. Archbishop of Kinshasa , Congo Dem. President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Archbishop Emeritus of Lyon , France. Archbishop of Valladolid , Spain. Archbishop of Managua , Nicaragua. Archbishop Emeritus of Lima , Peru.

Archbishop of Toronto , Ontario, Canada. Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi , Pakistan. Any non-Roman Catholic priest may be re-ordained as necessary and serve as a Roman Catholic Latin Rite priest, even when married. Pope Joan Ioannes Anglicus, — was, according to legend, a woman who reigned as pope for an unknown number of years during the Middle Ages. Her story first appeared in chronicles in the 13th century and subsequently spread throughout Europe.

Pope Benedict IX was the pope who sold the papacy several times for money. Benedict IX was pope from to , again in , and finally from to Pope Francis, the th pope of the Roman Catholic Church has been credited for his humility and modern approach to the papacy, breaking traditions that had been upheld be popes for more than a century. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Ben Davis March 26, If after three days of balloting nobody has gained the two-thirds majority, voting is suspended for a maximum of one day to allow a pause for prayer, informal discussion and what is described as "a brief spiritual exhortation" by the senior cardinal in the Order of Deacons.

At the end of the election, a document is drawn up giving the results of the voting at each session, and handed over to the new pope. It is kept in an archive in a sealed envelope, which can be opened only on the orders of the pope.

The only clue about what is going on inside the Sistine Chapel is the smoke that emerges twice a day from burning the ballot papers. Black signals failure. The traditional white smoke means a new pope has been chosen. After the election of the new pope has been signalled by white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney, there will be a short delay before his identity is finally revealed to the world.

Once one candidate has attained the required majority, he is then asked: "Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff? Having given his consent, the new pope is asked: "By what name do you wish to be called? After he has chosen a name, the other cardinals then approach the new pope to make an act of homage and obedience.

The new pope also has to be fitted into his new robes. The papal tailor will have prepared garments to dress a pope of any size - small, medium or large - but some last-minute adjustments may be required.

Then, from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, the traditional announcement will echo around the square: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum His name is then revealed, and the newly-elected pontiff will make his first public appearance. After saying a few words, the pope will give the traditional blessing of Urbi et Orbi - "to the city and the world" - and a new pontificate will have begun.

Cardinals summoned to Rome. Voting rituals. Reaching a decision.