How to Become Pope: A Step-by-Step Guide

Basic Eligibility

Must be a Catholic
Must be a man
Technically, any Catholic man can become Pope, but in practice, it is highly unlikely without first being a cardinal.

Education Requirements:
- College degree in Catholic Philosophy
- Master’s in Divinity
Personal Requirements:
- Must be a man
- Must be unmarried
- Must be willing to remain celibate
Ordination allows one to run a Catholic Church or work under another priest.

Statistics:
- Approximately 400,000 priests worldwide
- Only about 5,000 become bishops
Job Role:
- Bishops oversee cathedrals and multiple local churches
Advancement Requirement:
- Must wait for a bishop to retire (age 75) or pass away
- Being on a secret list of potential bishops updated every three years is crucial
Requirements to be on the List:
- At least 35 years old
- Minimum of 5 years as a priest
- Doctorate in theology (or equivalent)
Selection Process:
- Local bishops submit a list to the Apostolic Nuncio
- Nuncio selects three names, conducts interviews, and sends the report to Vatican City
- Congress of bishops reviews and may request more candidates
- Pope has final approval

Cardinals are essentially bishops with added responsibilities, notably electing the new pope.
Only about 200 of the 5,000 bishops become cardinals
Appointment as a cardinal is done by the current pope

Cardinals under 80 gather at Vatican City upon the pope’s death or retirement
Voting Process:
- Takes place in the Sistine Chapel
- Requires a 2/3 majority to elect a new pope
- Votes are cast four times a day
- Black smoke denotes no decision; white smoke indicates a new pope has been chosen
Tradition:
- Newly elected pope chooses a name, often that of a previous pope

The path to becoming the pope is intricate, with numerous unofficial requirements and a significant amount of waiting and competition.