How the pope is elected

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. More