Award-winning author Greg Tobin offers a compelling guide to what will surely be one of the most important and headline-making events in modern history: the election of the new Pope. Every rule of this secretive process receives close scrutiny, as does the rich history behind the conclave and the key issues that will shape the future of the Catholic Church at a time when it is in crisis, in the U.S. and abroad. You'll discover why the election always concludes with the rising of white smoke; what powers the Cardinals hold during the vacancy of the holy See; and what startling changes Pope John Paul II made to the centuries-old procedures. Look back at some of the more than 200 holy men and scoundrels, geniuses and mediocrities who have held the lofty position of Pope, and then look forward to possible successors to Pope John Paul II. In addition, there's a day-by-day account of the balloting inside the Sistine Chapel. Whether your interest is historical, religious, or political, you'll enjoy a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Vatican.