Could the next pope be Pakistani? Here’s what you need to know…

With the passing of Pope Francis, 88-year-old Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the election for his successor is to take place within the next 15 to 20 days. Among the contenders is Pakistan’s second cardinal, Joseph Coutts.

The pope is the head of the Catholic Church who holds full authority over it and is considered a powerful and important figure, as well as a spiritual leader, for nearly 1.5 billion Catholics around the world.

Pakistan’s Joseph Coutts qualifies to join the conclave – secret meeting where the cardinals gather to elect a new pope – because he was born on July 21, 1945, fulfilling the condition that cardinals, who are usually also bishops, must be under the age of 80. Joseph Coutts is three months short of 80 years, so he will be part of the election.

Cardinal Coutts of Pakistan, if elected, will be the first pope from South Asia. However, it has been observed that usually cardinals from Europe are elected. But then there was also Pope Francis, who was the first Latin American pontiff. 

As for the rather secret process of choosing a new pope, cardinals gather under Michelangelo’s painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel in Rome to initiate deliberations regarding selection. In order to make the meeting secret, telephones and newspapers are removed, and the chapel is also swept for listening devices before and during the conclave.

According to reports, there are 250 cardinals from more than 90 countries. However, there are only 135 cardinal electors due to the age restriction.

Cardinals vote up to four times a day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. During this time, no one is allowed to enter the cardinals’ quarters except for maintenance staff, doctors and priests who hear their confessions — and even these individuals are required to take an oath of secrecy.

A two-thirds majority is needed to elect the new pope and this process continues until only one candidate remains for the position of the pope. The longest papal conclave was in 1992, when it took five days to choose a new leader.

The ballot cards are burned after each round of voting with chemicals added to make the chimney smoke black or white. Black smoke indicates that no pope has been chosen so far whereas white smoke indicates that a new pope has been elected.

After election, the new pope is dressed in papal garments, following which, cardinals pay homage to the him and pledge their obedience.

Among the forerunners are Pietro Parolin of Italy, Luis Antonio of the Philippines, Peter Turkson of Ghana, Peter Erdo of Hungary, Matteo Zuppi of Italy, Jose Tolentino of Portugal and Mario Grech of Malta.