Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) was elected in the 2005 conclave with a two‑thirds majority of the cardinal electors present, as required by Church law for a valid papal election.

Quick Scoop: How many votes did it take?

  • In modern conclaves, a candidate must receive at least two‑thirds of all votes cast by the cardinal electors to be elected pope.
  • In 2005, there were 115 cardinal electors, so Benedict XVI would have needed at least 77 votes (two‑thirds of 115, rounded up to the next whole number) to be validly elected.
  • Contemporary reports and historical reconstructions generally indicate he comfortably surpassed this threshold on the fourth ballot (the first ballot of the second day), though the exact tally has never been officially published, because conclave vote counts are kept secret by law.

In short: it took at least 77 votes to elect Pope Benedict XVI, and he is widely believed to have received significantly more than that required two‑thirds supermajority.

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