To become the Pope, the process involves several key steps and requirements:

Basic Eligibility

• The candidate must be a baptized male Catholic

• Technically, any Catholic male, including laymen, priests, deacons, bishops, or cardinals, can be elected Pope, but in practice, it is almost always a cardinal

• The candidate must be at least 35 years old and have studied theology, canon law, or the Bible, typically at a university level

Typical Career Path

• Usually, a man becomes a priest first, which involves extensive education: an undergraduate degree, around 4 years in seminary, and a year as a deacon before ordination

• After serving as a priest for several years (at least 5), he may be appointed a bishop, which is a prerequisite for becoming a cardinal

• Cardinals are senior church officials who elect the Pope and are usually bishops themselves

Election Process

• When the papacy is vacant (due to death or resignation), the College of Cardinals convenes in a secret meeting called the Conclave, held in the Sistine Chapel

• Only cardinals under 80 years old can vote, and they cast secret ballots until one candidate receives a two-thirds majority

• The ballots are burned after each round, producing black smoke if no Pope is elected, or white smoke when a new Pope is chosen

• The elected cardinal is asked if he accepts the election; if he does, he chooses a papal name and is then officially the Pope

Additional Notes

• If the elected Pope is not already a bishop, he must be consecrated as one before assuming office

• The last time a non-cardinal was elected Pope was over 600 years ago; practically, the Pope is always chosen from among the cardinals

In summary, becoming the Pope involves a lifelong commitment to the Catholic Church, progressing through priesthood and episcopal ranks, and finally being elected by the College of Cardinals in a conclave requiring a two-thirds majority vote