Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Becoming a priest
• Part 2 of 3: Advancing in your career
• Part 3 of 3: Being elected as Pope
• Tips

The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and he has also been the head of the smallest sovereign state in the world, the Vatican, since 1929. Technically, the only conditions for becoming a pope are that you are a man and that you are a Catholic. But since Pope Urbanus in 1378, no pope has actually been elected outside the Council of Cardinals. Make sure you become a priest first, when your Pope turns white, and then work your way up within the Catholic hierarchy until you are elected by the other cardinals. Keep in mind that it is essential to fully believe in the Catholic faith. This is not just a job, it is also a calling.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Becoming a priest

1. Become a Catholic. To become a pope you must be male as well as be a Catholic. If you were not born a Catholic, then you need to repent. This process is called repentance.
   • This is a process that takes time. You are required to study the Catholic faith and Catholic teachings. This is called catechism.
   • You are required to be baptized. This happens after you have immersed yourself in the doctrine.
   • Becoming a Catholic is an extension of your faith. It is necessary that you are accompanied by someone in this. Contact a denomination in your area so you can begin the conversion process.
2. Think about your calling. Becoming a priest isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle. Make sure you are aware of all the conditions that apply to admission to the order of the priests. Catholic priests are not allowed to marry or engage in sexual acts.
   • Take time to reflect on your calling. Think about your talents. Do you have a lot of compassion? Is your faith in God strong? Are you happy with your calling? These qualities are important when your priest turns white.
   • Ask for advice. Talk to the priest in the church you are a member of and ask about his experiences. Ask specific questions, such as what the priest does. Then take some time to think about the path you want to take, and whether you really want to become a priest or not.
3. Take on the role of leader. As you get older, you can also start to think more actively whether a role as a spiritual leader suits you. Throughout the world, Catholic societies are running leadership programs for Catholic youth. Ask a priest at your church if such a thing is a good idea for you. Most programs offer courses in leadership development and spiritual growth. These types of programs strengthen your faith and allow you to gain a broader understanding of your calling.
   • Participating in a leadership program will help you understand the kinds of skills needed to gain more authority in the Church as your career progresses, and thus as you progress.
   • If the church you are with does not offer a leadership program, see if there is an opportunity to get a scholarship for a program in another region.
4. Make sure you do an education. Specific training is required to become a priest. First you have to finish high school, VWO. During your high school days, you can already begin your journey to become a priest. For example, it can be useful to learn lessons in a foreign language. The Pope is an international leader, so communication is very important to learn, especially if you really do become a Pope.
   • Talk to the mentor who is guiding you through this process. Most secondary schools have a counselor who can help you create a roadmap for your life once you graduate. Ask him if he can help you determine which training institute and which training courses are most suitable for the progress of your career.
5. Keep studying. You need to go to college to study theology or go to seminary to become a priest. To go to seminary you need a diploma from high school, VWO. A seminary is a training for the priesthood. There are seminars all over the world, including in the Netherlands.
   • Some young men take a bachelor's degree before deciding to become priests. They often continue with a master after the bachelor.
   • You can obtain your master's degree in theology at university. You will then be a theologian after graduation.
6. Choose the right training. Your spiritual journey is important, and the choice of education is also very important, because then you can learn the skills you need to continue in your calling. Compare the different training centers well with each other. Ask yourself if you want a broad spiritual education or if you just want to focus on studying Catholic doctrine. Make sure to visit the university you want to go to before enrolling anywhere.
   • Talk to students who are following the study program you want to follow. Also ask people who have already graduated how they experienced the training.
   • Think about whether the education you are considering will help you in your goal of developing yourself spiritually and intellectually.

Part 2 of 3: Advancing in your career

1. Be a good priest. Once you become a priest, it is important that you do your job very well. That is the best way to advance within the ranks of the Church. A good priest is someone on whom people can rely and who actively helps members of his Church and fellowship in many ways.
   • As a priest, you are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the members of your church. You administer the sacraments, you lead mass, and you take confession.
   • An exemplary priest can be awarded the title of Monsignor once he has become a bishop or archbishop.
2. Improve your social skills. After you become a priest, any promotion you make in the future will be on the basis of appointment. This means that you have to make a good impression on the people who lead and who are above you within the hierarchy. Make sure you can deal well with colleagues and people in position above you.
   • Make sure you can communicate effectively. Make sure you feel comfortable speaking in public. You already do this as a priest, and it becomes more and more important as you move up in the church. Be confident and clear when you speak.
   • Make sure you work well with others. If you are a bishop or cardinal, you lead a group of priests. Practice listening to the needs of others, and communicate effectively when giving assignments to others.
3. Become a bishop. A bishop presides over all priests within a diocese. A diocese is the area or region within which the churches fall under the authority of a bishop. An archbishop presides over his diocese (an archdiocese) and also presides over other bishops. The Pope is responsible for appointing all bishops, including archbishops. It is therefore important that you make a good impression on the people who advise him.
   • Be in regular contact with the archbishop in your area. He can make a positive recommendation if someone asks his opinion of you.
   • A bishop meets regularly with other bishops to determine the policies and liturgical regulations of their region.
   • The Pope is responsible for appointing bishops and archbishops. He receives recommendations from the bishops about possible candidates.
   • Remember, you cannot formally apply for the position of bishop or archbishop. You must be appointed.
   • The chief adviser in this procedure is the Apostolic Nuncio. He is the Pope's representative on the ecclesiastical organization and hierarchy in individual countries.
4. Become a cardinal. A cardinal is a bishop chosen by the Pope to fulfill this special appointment. The Pope selects from among the archbishops a cardinals for the various dioceses. Cardinals can work in the Vatican or their own Archdiocese. Not all regions have their own cardinal.
   • The Pope often appoints a cardinal in areas of the world where many Catholics live, such as Manila, Boston or Brussels.
   • Make sure you live in a region where a cardinal resides. There is little chance that you will obtain this position from the countryside where few people live.
   • If you are a bishop, maintain a positive relationship with the cardinal in your area. Express your desire to serve the Church and demonstrate your ability to lead.
   • Cardinals are active in structuring the organization within the Catholic Church.
   • There is no formal application process or other means of bidding for the post of cardinal. You can only be appointed by the Pope.

Part 3 of 3: Being elected as Pope

1. Prepare for the appointment. Since a pope is only elected about every twenty or thirty years, it is important that you are well prepared for this. Make sure you have regular contact with the College of Cardinals. You should have built up a good reputation all these years now. Continue to show that you would be a positive public representative of the church as the concave approaches.
   • The cardinals meet after the Pope's funeral to prepare the concave. This is where the political game is played. Find out who is supporting you.
   • Make it clear to the other cardinals that you are happy to accept any appointment.
2. Understand how the conclave procedure works. The official procedure for electing the Pope is called a "conclave". The incumbent cardinals, also known as the College of Cardinals, meet to appoint a new pope. This group then meets in the Sistine Chapel. No one else is allowed to be present. "Conclave" in Latin literally means "locked up with a key."
   • It is an unwritten law that the incumbent Pope must die before a conclave can be convened. It is exceptional for a pope to step down from office.
   • The cardinals gather to secretly vote 15-20 days after the Pope's death.
   • Only the cardinals are allowed to enter the chapel. There are a few exceptions, such as medical personnel.
   • Each cardinal must take a solemn oath declaring that he will follow the rules of the conclave as written by Pope John Paul II.
   • After the first day of the conclave, two votes are given every morning, and two every afternoon.
3. Get the most votes. It is considered inappropriate to openly "campaign" for the post of Pope. However, there are only a few people who manage to be a known and respected cardinal. Usually only a small group of candidates is considered during the conclave. The person with the most votes is elected the new Pope.
   • The voting procedure consists of three phases: an accurate preliminary investigation, in which the votes are prepared; the accurate investigation in which the votes are collected and counted; and a post-vote scrutiny, in which the votes are re-counted and then burned.
   • A conclave can take several days, but generally does not last longer than two weeks.
   • To be elected pope, a cardinal needs heeft of the votes. The ballot papers are burned after each vote. If black smoke rises from the chapel, it means that there is another vote. When white smoke rises, it means that a new Pope has been elected.
4. Do your tasks. The Pope is the spiritual leader of the Catholic people in the world. There are approximately 1.2 billion Catholics at the time of writing. Since 1929, the Pope has also been the leader of the world's smallest sovereign state, the Vatican.
   • The Pope is responsible for weekly blessing the people who visit the Vatican. He also holds a weekly general audience.
   • The Pope conducts all major religious celebrations, such as Christmas and Easter.
   • Modern popes travel around the world, meeting Catholics and world leaders.

Tips

• Learn as many languages ​​as you can. A Pope is expected to be able to communicate in English and Italian, but mastering other languages ​​will help you connect with believers from around the world.
• Differentiate yourself, but don't get too controversial. Your fellow cardinals are more likely to vote for you as Pope if you are known for all the good you do in your work, and you are committed to charity, than if you are known for your tendency to bully people with statements that include even not very popular.