The Pope has died

[catinthedark]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

so who's the pope now. the world is currently Popeless at the moment, and there doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency to replace him. It would seem to me that that would something the church would have lined up years before a pope dies. Especially how badly ailing Jon Paul was in his last few years.

There is reems of protocol attached to this. A new pope cannot be selected before the sitting pope dies, or abdicates. From Reuters:

++ The conclave to elect a new pope starts in the Vatican's
Sistine Chapel between 15 and 20 days after the death. The
cardinals, who are confined to the Vatican for the duration of
the conclave, decide the exact day. For the first time, they
will not live in the Chapel or nearby rooms in the Vatican
Museum, but in a new residence on Vatican grounds.
++ There are 117 cardinals under the age of 80 and so
eligible to vote. Only two were not appointed by John Paul II. A
majority of at least two-thirds plus one is required to elect
the new pope. When the conclave has elected a pope, he is asked
if he accepts and which name he wishes to take. Once this is
done, he dons papal vestments -- tailors keep several sizes
ready -- and sits on a throne in the Sistine Chapel to receive
the other cardinals who file up to pay homage and pledge
obedience.
++ The world will know a pope has been elected when an
official burns the paper ballots with special chemicals to make
white smoke pour out of the chapel's chimney. They use other
chemicals to make black smoke indicating an inconclusive vote.
++ Soon afterwards, the dean of the College of Cardinals
steps on to the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica to
announce to the crowds in the square "Habemus Papam" (We have a
Pope). The new pope then appears in his papal robes and gives
the crowd his blessing.