When the Papal candidate gets a majority, the ballot papers are burnt with dry straw so that white smoke issues through the chimney and the world outside knows that a new Pope has been elected. Till then after each of the earlier rounds, wet straw is used to burn the ballot sheets and the resultant black smoke conveys the message of an indecisive vote. Straw, both wet and dry, is kept ready during the entire process. Even in these days of advanced technology, the old traditional practice continues!

The present incumbent, John Paul II, who hails from Poland, is the 264th Pope after St. Peter, the first pontiff. When he was elected in 1978, he was 58 years old, the youngest Pope since 1846. He had had a steady climb. In 1946, he was ordained a priest when Poland was under Communist rule. Just 12 years later, he became Bishop, then Archbishop of Cracow in 1963; and Cardinal in 1967 before elevation to the Papacy in 1978. Born on May 18, 1920, his mother was a schoolteacher and his father a retired army lieutenant.

History of Papacy

The history of the Papacy is quite interesting. It originated in 64 A.D. when St. Peter assumed the papal function as the first and foremost of Jesus Christ's disciples. The 'Papacy' represents the entire system of government of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world, with the Pope as its head.

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, primate of Italy and Patriarch of the West. He is hailed as the Vicar of God, Vicar of Christ, 'Pater Patrum' (Father of Fathers), 'Servus Servorum Dei' (Servant of the Servants of God') -- compare Circutthondar, Thondaradippadi etc. in Hinduism -- and Supreme Pontiff ('Pontifex Maximum' - Chief bridge-builder). The word 'Pope' has its origin in the Greek 'pappas' (originally father) and Latin 'papa'.

St. Peter

St. Peter went to Rome in 43 AD and established his 'see' and ruled as Bishop of Rome till 68 AD, the time when Nero (who fiddled as Rome burned) was emperor and Christians were persecuted. It is firmly believed that the altar of the great church of St. Peter in Rome stands above his burial place.

St. Peter became the first Bishop or Pope in accordance with the wishes of Jesus Christ, who seems to have said. "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Emperor Constantine steps in

It was Emperor Constantine I, who gave Christians their freedom and by his various other acts of munificence and friendliness, turned the Church into a great temporal power.

St. Peter assumed the Papacy. Gregory the First was the first monk to be elected pope. Every Pope, when elected, assumes a new name.