A papal conclave elects a new pope by a two-thirds majority of the cardinals who are eligible and present to vote.

Quick Scoop: How many votes?

  • Current rules require at least two-thirds of the cardinal electors for a valid election.
  • The exact number of votes depends on how many cardinals are actually voting in that conclave.
  • For example, with 133 cardinal electors (as in the current/next conclave), the threshold is 89 votes to elect a pope.

Why two-thirds?

  • The fixed two-thirds rule was reaffirmed by Pope Benedict XVI, who removed the option of switching to a simple majority even after a long deadlock.
  • The idea is to ensure the new pope has a broad, stable consensus rather than just a bare majority.

In short: “conclave how many votes” = two‑thirds of the cardinals present, which in a 133-cardinal conclave means 89 votes.

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