VATICAN CITY
KKOB
(NEW YORK) — A new pope is elected by the College of Cardinals in Rome, who gather under Michelangelo’s famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel under strict security measures. Only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote, which means 118 members are eligible to vote for Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.
This process is called a conclave and it will take place at the end of March to elect a new pope in place of Benedict, who announced on Monday that he is stepping down.
The cardinals are totally cut off from the outside world during conclave, as television, phones, newspapers and computers are all banned. They are housed in private rooms in the Santa Maria house until a new pope is elected.
Aside from the cardinals, about 70 other people are allowed in the Santa Maria house such as doctors, cooks and housekeepers.
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