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Originally Posted by kutulu
What is interesting was that he and others knew he was gathering a lot of votes. The ballots are supposed to be secret and burned immediately if a winner is not declared. I guess they talk about their votes a lot.
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The votes are burned, but they are only a secret to those outside of the conclave. The ballots are held up so all of the cardinals can see them.
Each Cardinal writes his nomination in the space provided and then folds the ballot paper. The Cardinals go one by one, in order of seniority, to the altar. Each in turn kneels for a moment in prayer. He rises and, holding up to paper for all to see, cries aloud: “I call to witness the Lord Christ, who will be my judge, that I am electing the one whom under God I think ought to be elected.” As he says these words, he has before his eyes the tremendous fresco by Michaelangeleo, showing Christ coming in judgement. The Cardinal then places the ballot paper on the paten and tips it into the chalice, before returning to his place.
What makes me wonder is why he accepted the position. After a successful vote, the person elected is asked if they accept the position. Yes and they move forward, no and they continue the conclave. All he would have needed to say was no.
When at last the balloting has proved successful, the violet canopies over the thrones are lowered, leaving only that of the Cardinal who has been elected. Then the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who is the senior of the Cardinal Bishops, presents himself before the throne of the Cardinal who has been elected, as asks him whether he will accept election. If he does accept, in that moment he becomes Pope, with the full authority of the Vicar of Christ. The Cardinal Dean then asks him the name by which he would wish to be called.
http://www.truecatholic.org/pope/conclave-history.htm