As Pope Francis continues to battle double pneumonia in hospital, his poor health is casting a spotlight on the arcane process of how the Catholic Church elects its leader.
The papal “conclave” is intentionally shrouded in mystery — the term itself is Latin for “locked room” — but here are some of its rules and wrinkles:
Who is eligible?
Candidates must be male and a baptized Catholic. And, though it is not an explicit requirement, every pontiff has been a cardinal before they were elected.
Who votes?
The pope is chosen by 120 cardinals who must be under the age of 80 at the time of the previous pope’s death or resignation.
As of Jan. 22, the world has 252 cardinals, of which 138 fit the age requirement. It’s not clear how the 120 are chosen. Those over the age of 80 can participate in preliminary meetings.
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