Catholic Fashion at the Met Gala: The Gowns of Ariana Grande, Rhianna, and Zendaya
When a pope dies, Catholics offer prayers to thank God for his service and to ask for guidance in selecting a new leader. The College of Cardinals performs the church's administrative duties until a new pope is named. All cardinals of the church may attend the election meetings known as the conclave but only 120 of them may vote and those voting must be under the age of 80. While the world expects the new pope to be one of the cardinals present at the conclave, that is not a requirement.
Canon Law of the Catholic Church states that any male who has been baptized in the church is eligible. Candidates do not have to be members of the clergy but they must be in good moral standing and eligible to be named a bishop. While any baptized male can be named pope, the chances of selecting a lay person are extremeley low. Since 1378, every pope has come from the College of Cardinals.
The next pope will follow in the footsteps of St. Peter and all his successors who led the church in faith and mercy. He will fulfill his duty to shepherd his flock.
To learn more about the traditions of the Catholic Church, read Catholic Traditions and Treasures: An Illustrated Encyclopedia by Dr. Helen Hoffner and illustrated by Deirdre M. Folley. Published by Sophia institute Press, the book explains the origin of traditions and practices such as burying a St. Joseph statue to sell a home, praying to St. Anthony to find a lost object, and chalking the doors on the Feast of the Epiphany. The book is available from EWTN Religious Catalogue, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, the Catholic Company, Sophia Institute Press, and other book sellers and online vendors.
https://sophiainstitute.com/product/catholic-traditions-and-treasures/