The elected Cardinal will have been asked: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?”
After giving his consent, the new pope is asked: “By what name do you wish to be called?”
After he has chosen a name, the other cardinals then approach the new pope to make an act of homage and obedience.
The new pope also has to be fitted into his new robes. The papal tailor will have prepared garments to dress a pope of any size – small, medium or large – but some last-minute adjustments may be required.
There will also likely be some time taken for prayer and reflection.
In approx 45 minutes, Cardinal Protodeacon Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran (from France) will appear on central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and announce in Latin:
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:
Habemus Papam;
Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum [First Name] Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem [Last Name],
Qui sibi nomen imposuit [Papal Name].”
English :
I announce to you a great joy:
We have a Pope!
The most eminent and most reverend Lord,
Lord [First Name] Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church [Last Name],
Who takes for himself the name of [Papal Name].
The deacon MAY greet the crowd in a general way before formal announcement. After Benedict’s election, Cardinal Jorge Medina Estévez preceded announcement with “Fratelli e sorelle carissimi. (Italian) QueridÃsimos hermanos y hermanas. (Spanish) Bien chers frères et sÅ“urs. (French) Liebe Brüder und Schwestern. (German) Dear brothers and sisters. (English)”
After the announcement, the new pope appears and he gives his first Urbi et Orbi (“to the city and world”) blessing. He will likely give greetings in several languages and then speak in his native language or maybe Italian.
US cardinals will head back to North American College and may be available for interview.
New pope is expected to celebrate Mass with Cardinals in Sistine chapel on the day following his election. Not open to public, but will be televised by Vatican TV.
If election is before Sunday: on Sunday noon Rome time (0700 ET), new Pope expected (but not definite) to give short sermon and recite Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square
Inauguration Mass: Tue Mar 19 is St Joseph’s day, important Catholic holiday and would be good day for inauguration. Actual day is of course subject to election timing and new Pope’s wishes. There are no plans for Pope Emeritus Benedict to take part in inaugural Mass, according to info Vatican spokespeople.
