The Pope is the highest leader in the hierarchy of the Catholic church. The main requirement to become pope is to be male and Catholic. Under these conditions, the opportunity to become pope is wide open, but over the last few centuries, those elected to the pope have previously served as cardinals and are elected by other cardinals in a conclave of papal elections. In order to become pope, you must start by becoming a priest. After that, you have to go on a journey to move up to a higher position according to the Catholic church hierarchy until elected by your peers. This can be achieved by people who live a life based on a strong Catholic faith. Being pope is not just a position, but more of a service.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Becoming a Pastor
Step 1. Be a Catholic
The position of pope can only be held by a man who is a Catholic. If you are not Catholic and want to become pope, you must convert. This process is called Catholic baptism.
- The process takes time because you have to take Catholic lessons and understand how to worship in a church called catechism.
- You must be baptized after completing the education.
- As a Catholic, you need guidance and mentors to deepen your faith. Contact the nearest church to get started.
Step 2. Meditate on your life's calling
Being a pastor is not just a job, but fulfilling a life's calling. You must understand all the requirements to become a priest. In Catholicism, priests are prohibited from marrying and engaging in sexual activity.
- Take time to reflect on your purpose in life and your abilities. Are you someone who is able to love others? Do you have strong faith? Are you happy with the devotion you are about to do? These are the criteria that must be met by a priest.
- Ask for advice. Consult the pastor at the church and ask about his experience. You can ask what duties the pastor has to do. After that, ponder which path you will choose, whether you want to become a priest or not.
Step 3. Be a leader
As you get older, you can begin to consider whether a career as a spiritual leader is the right choice for life. Around the world, many dioceses have leadership programs for young Catholics that provide courses to develop leadership skills and spiritual growth. Ask your pastor if you need to join a program that will strengthen your faith and help you better understand your calling.
- By joining a leadership program, you can improve your skills to be better prepared to take on greater responsibilities in the church to hold higher positions.
- If your church doesn't have a leadership program, look for scholarships so you can take the program elsewhere.
Step 4. Take education
You have to take special education to become a priest. First, you must graduate from high school. While in high school, you can prepare yourself to become a priest, for example by taking foreign language courses. The Pope is an international figure. So you need to have good communication skills, especially if you're a real whale.
Consult the counselor who guides you. Many high schools provide guidance counselors who can help you plan your life after graduation. Ask him to help you find information on seminaries and theological schools you need to attend in order to advance in your career
Step 5. Continue education
You must attend the usual lectures or attend seminary before becoming a pastor. In order to enter seminary, you must have a high school diploma. A seminary is a campus that educates aspiring pastors around the world.
- Many youths attend college as usual before deciding to become priests. After obtaining a bachelor's degree, they usually follow postgraduate education to earn a master's degree.
- Postgraduate education is pursued by taking theology courses at a university and will earn a master's degree in theology.
Step 6. Determine the right education
Spiritual journey is very important. Therefore, you must decide carefully the most appropriate place to improve your skills so that your goals can be achieved. Consider a few schools and ask yourself if you want to have a deep spiritual education or want to focus on studying Catholic doctrine alone. Take time to visit campus before you make a decision.
- Talk to students who are studying at the campus you are visiting. Ask alumni to share their experiences.
- Consider whether certain programs can help you grow spiritually and intellectually.
Part 2 of 3: Career Advancement
Step 1. Be a good pastor
After becoming a priest, you have to do a good job. This is the best way to get a promotion in the church. To be a good pastor, you must be reliable, willing to help church members, and support the community.
- As a pastor, you are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the congregation. You must offer the sacrament, lead mass, and serve confessions.
- An exemplary priest will receive the title of “monsignor”.
Step 2. Hone your interpersonal skills
Pastor will get promotion based on appointment. Therefore, you must be kind to the people who lead you in higher positions. Try to maintain good relations with the people around you.
- Be a good communicator. You should be able to speak comfortably in front of a large group of people. You've done this before as a pastor and it becomes even more important the higher up you are in the church. Speak clearly and confidently.
- Maintain good working relationships with others. As a bishop or cardinal, you must lead the priests. Learn to listen to the needs of others and convey instructions well.
Step 3. Try to be a bishop
The bishop is the head of the priests in a diocese. A diocese is a territory or area that includes several churches that are under the authority of a particular diocese. The archbishop oversees his diocese and presides over several bishops. The Pope is responsible for electing bishops. So you have to be able to make a good impression on the people in charge of advising the pope.
- Have regular communication with the archbishop in your area. He will make positive recommendations if asked to give his opinion about you.
- Bishops will meet regularly to determine liturgical policies and guidelines in their respective areas.
- The Pope is responsible for selecting bishops on the recommendation of other bishops.
- You cannot make a formal application to become a bishop because bishops are elected by appointment.
- The highest adviser to the pope in this process is the apostolic nuncio (ambassador of the Vatican State) who represents the pope in the government and church hierarchy in a particular country.
Step 4. Strive to be a cardinal
A cardinal is a bishop chosen by the pope to receive a special office. The pope elects an archbishop who serves as a cardinal in a particular diocese, but not all regions have cardinals.
- The Pope usually appoints a cardinal to preside over areas with large Catholic populations, such as Jakarta and other major cities around the world.
- You must live in an area where there are cardinals. You won't get a promotion if you live in a suburb with a small Catholic population.
- After becoming a bishop, try to maintain good relations with the cardinals in your area. Explain that you really want to serve the church and demonstrate your administrative skills.
- The cardinal is responsible for the orderly administration of the Catholic church.
- You cannot apply or be formally interviewed to become a cardinal because the cardinal will be chosen by the pope.
Part 3 of 3: Becoming the Elected Pope
Step 1. Get ready for the election
Since pope elections take place every few decades, you should prepare well. You'll need to stay in touch with the cardinals in order to build a good professional reputation from the start. In the run-up to a conclave, try to show that you are a good public figure.
- The cardinals will gather to prepare for the conclave one day after the funeral or abdication of the pope. Currently, decisions will be made based on political considerations. Try to identify people who will support you.
- Show the other cardinals that you are ready to run.
Step 2. Know the meaning of conclave
The formal process of selecting a pope is known as a conclave trial. The Council of Cardinals or an authorized team of cardinals will convene to elect a new pope in the Sistine Chapel and others are barred from entering. Conclave in Latin literally means "locked in the room".
- Usually, a conclave is held after the pope's death. The pope rarely resigns, but it does happen.
- The cardinals will gather 15-20 days after the pope's death to vote in secret.
- Only cardinals may be in the chapel. Some people get exceptions, for example health workers.
- Each cardinal must solemnly swear that he will obey the rules of the conclave as written by Pope John Paul II.
- After the first day of the conclave, voting will take place twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon.
Step 3. Get the most votes
Running a campaign to become pope was considered inappropriate. However, votes will be given to cardinals who are considered good and respected. Usually, only a few candidates are considered during a conclave and the candidate who gets the most votes will be appointed as the new pope.
- There are three stages in the voting process: preparation of ballots, voting is done by collecting and counting the votes cast, and re-examination of the vote count and the ballots being burned.
- Conclave hearings may last several days, but usually no more than two weeks.
- In order to be elected pope, a cardinal must receive 2/3 of the total vote. The ballots will be burned when the voting is over. If black smoke rises from the chapel, this means that the vote will be repeated. White smoke is a sign that a new pope has been elected.
Step 4. Carry out your tasks
The Pope is the spiritual leader of Catholics around the world. Today, Catholics worldwide are estimated at 1.2 billion. The Pope is also the supreme head of the Vatican, the world's smallest sovereign state.
- Every Sunday, the Pope will bless those who visit the Vatican and provide opportunities for public hearings.
- The Pope will also give blessings in celebration of religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter.
- Popes in modern times also travel around the world to meet with Catholic clergy and world leaders.
Tips
- Learn as many foreign languages as possible. As pope, you must be able to communicate in Italian and English. However, other foreign language skills will support your worldwide ministry.
- Define your name as pope, but don't choose a name that's too controversial. Other cardinals are more likely to vote for you as pope if you are known for being kind and generous, rather than for influencing people with unpopular remarks.
