Scheduled to begin May 7 in Rome, what is the name of the secret balloting ritual used to elect a new pope?
Synod
Conclave
Consistory
Sacrosanctum
Fact: The Conclave is the centuries-old secret balloting ritual by which a new pope is elected. Derived from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key,” it refers to the cardinals being locked inside the Sistine Chapel to deliberate and vote in secrecy until a new pope is chosen. The process follows the death or resignation of a pope and is steeped in tradition, ceremony, and strict confidentiality. Smoke signals from a chapel chimney—black for an inconclusive vote, white for a successful election—alert the outside world to the results.
Correct Answer: Conclave