Title: Conclave: How cardinals elect a Pope - BBC News
Headings: Conclave: How cardinals elect a Pope
Conclave: How cardinals elect a Pope
Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of the month, at the age of 85.
Cardinals summoned to Rome
Secret conclave
Voting rituals
Reaching a decision
New pope announced

Content: If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone." Pope Benedict's resignation has set in motion the centuries-old process of electing a new pope. Cardinals summoned to Rome
Popes are chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Church's most senior officials, who are appointed by the Pope and usually ordained bishops. They are summoned to a meeting at the Vatican which is followed by the Papal election - or Conclave. There are currently 203 cardinals from 69 countries. The rules of the Conclave were changed in 1975 to exclude all cardinals over the age of 80 from voting. The maximum number of cardinal electors is 120. During the forthcoming Conclave, there will be 115 cardinal-electors: they have to be younger than 80 to be eligible to vote, but Cardinal Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, the 78 year-old Archbishop Emeritus of Jakarta, has ruled himself out of travelling to Rome due to the "progressive deterioration" of his vision. Cardinal Keith O'Brien - Britain's most senior Catholic cleric - has also been ruled out of the voting after his resignation over allegations of inappropriate conduct.