How to Become the Pope

Basic Requirements

1. Be a Catholic
2. Be a Man
   • These are the only technical requirements, but practically, more is needed.

Path to the Papacy

Step 1: Become a Priest

• Education Required:
  • College degree in Catholic Philosophy
  • Master's degree in Divinity
• Personal Qualifications:
  • Must be a man
  • Must be unmarried and celibate
• Role:
  • Run a Catholic Church or assist another priest

Step 2: Become a Bishop

• Statistics:
  • About 400,000 priests globally
  • Only about 5,000 bishops
• Responsibilities:
  • Oversee a number of local churches from a cathedral
• Requirements:
  • Must be at least 35 years old
  • Must have been a priest for at least five years
  • Must have a Doctorate in Theology (or equivalent)
• Selection Process:
  • Wait for a vacancy (retirement at 75 or earlier death of a bishop)
  • Be on a secret list of potential bishops, updated every three years
  • Pope’s ambassador, the Apostolic Nuncio, selects from the list
  • Final approval by the congress of bishops and the pope

Step 3: Become a Cardinal

• Role:
  • Bishops with additional title and responsibilities
  • Elect the new pope
• Selection:
  • Only about 200 cardinals
  • Appointed by the current pope

Election of the New Pope

• Eligibility:
  • Must be a cardinal under the age of 80
• Process:
  • Sequestered in Vatican City for voting
  • Voting system requires a 2/3 majority
  • Voting occurs four times a day, six days a week
  • Votes are burned, black smoke indicates no decision, white smoke indicates a new pope
  • Process can last from weeks to years (record is three years)

Finalizing Papacy

• Choosing a Name:
  • Tradition to take the name of a previous pope
• Announcement:
  • White smoke signals the selection of a new pope

Career Ladder Summary

1. Become one of about 1 billion Catholics
2. Become one of 400,000 priests
3. Become one of 5,000 bishops
4. Become one of 200 cardinals
5. Convince 2/3 of the cardinals to elect you as pope