The popes were chosen almost immediately after the death of the sitting pope. The earliest popes were chosen by consensus of the clergy and people of Rome. In 1059 it was ruled that the cardinals should elect the pope. In 1274 the Church ruled that the cardinals should be locked away (Latin: cum clave) until a new pope has been chosen. From that came the English word conclave.
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At the head of the College of Bishops and called to lead the whole Church of Christ is the Successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, the Holy Roman Pontiff, the Pope. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ on Earth. He stands in Christ's place, on Christ's behalf, to shepherd Christ's flock.
The College of Bishops:Successors of the Apostles, the Bishops of the particular Churches throughout the world form the College of Bishops. Individual bishops have charge of a particular diocese. Each diocese is divided into individual communities called parishes, each staffed by one or more priests. The community is made up of ordained members and the laity. Members of religious orders such as brothers, nuns, friars and monks are lay members unless individually ordained as priests.Together as a group, the Bishops may exercise power over the Universal Church by coming together in an ecumenical council (such as Vatican II).
The College of Cardinals:Although not forming part of the official hierarchy of the Church, certain bishops are granted special status and position within the Church by being elevated to the College of Cardinals. The primary role of the College of Cardinals is to act as special advisors to the Pope and to come together on the death of a Pope to vote for his successor.
Brothers and Nuns:Although not part of the ordained hierarchy, there also exists within the Church those who are called to live a life consecrated to God. These faithful profess the "evangelical counsels" of charity, chastity, poverty and obedience under permanent vows as their state of life. This may take many forms, including nuns (consecrated virgins), hermits, monks and friars. These faithful live in community with each other according to the rules established for the community and approved by Rome.
Yes, the pope is elected by cardinals in a secret conclave held in the Sistine Chapel.
Popes are not appointed, they are elected and nearly all have been cardinals before becoming the pope.
For several centuries the pope has been elected from among the cardinals. It is not a requirement but has become a tradition.
A Pope is elected by an assembly of Cardinals in the Vatican
The College of Cardinals elect the pope.
Cardinals have elected the pope since the year 1059 and cardinals alone have elected the pope since that year. However, the newly chosen pope had to be first approved by the lower clergy and laity. In 1139 that was changed and only the cardinals could vote and the winning cardinal was not subject to approval of others before taking office.
According to Wikipedia, a papal bull of 1058 In Nomine Domini reserved the right of election to cardinals only. The only non-Cardinals who have been elected to the Papacy would be: Pope Celestine V Pope Clement V Pope Gregory X Pope Urban IV Pope Urban V Pope Urban VI Before that time there was not an established College of Cardinals as we understand them today, so more non-Cardinals were probably elected in the first millennium.
In the early years of the Church the pope was chosen by the clergy and laity living in and around Rome, Italy.
The Pope gets elected by the Cardinals not the people.
And who would you suggest elect the Pope? God has shown no inclination to interfere with the election. However, all the cardinals pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance before they vote that God's choice for pope will be elected.
There is no elected president in the Vatican. There is a pope who is elected in a secret conclave by the cardinals. The Pope is the head of state of the Vatican.
There have been a number of popes who were not cardinals. Pope Urban VI, pope from 1378 to 1389, was the last Pope to be elected from outside the College of Cardinals.