Recent Changes in Papal Election Law
Universi Dominici Gregis specifically disallowed both election by acclamation and by compromise - as a result the secret ballot is the sole valid method of electing a Pope. Originally, Universi Dominici Gregis allowed for a Pope to be elected with a simple majority if the usual requirement of a two-thirds super majority could not be reached after thirty-four ballots. On June 11, 2007 Pope Benedict XVI issued a Motu Proprio which requires a two-thirds majority regardless of the number of ballots it takes to elect a new Pope.
Read more about this topic: Acclamation (Papal Elections)
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