The successor of John Paul II will be elected conclaim by a majority of two -thirds of the vote

The new Pope will be elected on the Conclave (College of Cardinals) according to the rules described in the Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis" ("All the flock of the Lord"), which in February 1996 published seriously ill Pontiff John Pavel II , RIA Novosti reports.

According to this document, the vicar of Christ should be elected at a collection of cardinals, each of which did not reach the age of 80 at the time of the death of the current pontiff. At the same time, the number of conclave participants cannot exceed 120 people.

The conclave sits in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican. The word "conclave" is formed from the Latin expression "cum clave" ("turning key"), which is associated with the ancient tradition of isolation from the outside world of the cardinals, which were gathered to choose a new Roman pontiff.

Now the number of cardinals-purers corresponding to these conditions is 117 people, and 114 of them received their cardinal hats personally from the hands of the current dad. More than half of the "princes of the Church" represent Europe in college, and 20 of them - Italy.

Given the health status of John Pavel, Parkinson for a long time, experts many times over the past 10 years have made up all kinds of papabil lists, that is, the most likely candidates for the Apostolic throne.

The old Vatican sign - the one who enters the conclave of papabil comes out of him cardinal. Now you can call at least 10 higher church hierarchs, which can be fully applied to the white clothes of the Roman pontiff.

One of the most influential figures of modern Catholicism is the German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger , who heads a powerful congregation on the issues of doctrine (former ominous sacred office, in the Middle Ages called the Inquisition). In April, the dean of the collegium of cardinals will turn 78 years old. It is the venerable age that can turn it into a compromise figure, since it can act as a keeper of the traditions of the Church of the era of Karol Voitla for a transitional period. The influence of this cardinal on the church is huge, it uses unprecedented privileges.

The State Secretary (Head of Government) of the Vatican, Italian Cardinal Angelo Sodano also has good chances. He will also be 78 years old in November this year, and he also has a serious influence on many institutions and structures of the church. In addition, for almost 15 years, he largely controlled the activities of the Roman curia under John Paul II, who often neglected the routine work, focusing on his historical mission.

The most reputable cardinals include the Papal Vicar of Rome, the chairman of the episcopal conference of Italy , Kamillo Ruini . He can rely on the support of the vast majority of Italian bishops and on many of the 20 Italian cardinals-collapses. In addition, many European "princes of the Church", adhering to moderate-conservative views, can bet on this extraordinary religious figure.

Of the other Italian papabils, it should be called, first of all, Archbishop Milan Dioneji Tettamanzi , who never particularly hid his intentions to unite representatives of both the liberal and moderate wing of the church. He prepares for John Paul II the fundamental documents on the problems of the family, bioethics and other live -free issues of modern life. More than once, the cardinal took a fairly tough position in connection with the criticism of globalization and modern plutocracy. In Kuria, he can count on the support of the influential Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

The possibility of the appearance of Latin America on the Apostolic throne is not excluded. Many experts consider the choice of Archbishop San Paulo Claudio Hummes very likely. This Brazilian The Theologian-Franciscan has repeatedly demonstrated special attention to the problems of social justice, so acutely standing in Latin America, and also advocated a significant renewal of the church.

Another papabil from this continent is the Archbishop of Buenos Aires Horge Mario Bergolo . This 69-year-old Argentine Jesuit uses the glory of a deeply believing shepherd and at the same time a hierarch, tempted in church affairs.

The dream of millions of Catholics about the Black Pap can be embodied in the candidacy of the chairman of the Papal Council for the inter -religious dialogue to Francis Arinlets . This Nigerian cardinal in May 1994, when John Paul II was in the hospital, headed the closing ceremony of a special bishop’s synod on the problems of Africa and for a short time was on the papal throne.

The most likely European papabil, not representing Italy, is considered by Archbishop of Vienna Christoph Schenborn . A refined theologist, he demonstrated the exceptional ability to adapt church traditions to the culture of post -industrial society. At the same time, Schenborn did not lose the best qualities of the shepherd and managed to maintain very close relations between the clergy and flock in his archbishop. Schlenborn can claim the role of the modernizer of many church canons, which, of course, does not promise him a slight passage on the Conclave.

Experts believe that in the current church reality, any hierarch, even with strong charisma, will not be able to become a dad without support on powerful and branched Catholic structures.

One of the most powerful such institutions is the closed and mysterious organization of the OPUS Dei , the influence of which increased many times during the pontificate of the current pope. Two more prominent papabils are considered close to this structure - a major church lawyer, chairman of the Papal Council for Legislative texts , Julian Herrantz and Archbishop of Venice, the famous theologian Angela Shy .

Those who will become a new spiritual leader more than a billion of Catholics at the beginning of the 21st century will only show a conclave. The answer to this question will become known when white smoke will go from the pipe over the Apostolic Palace, meaning the election of the next pontiff.