Selecting the pope is an inside job and the men who do it are the cardinals, and while in theory they can select any catholic man to become pope, in practice they prefer to elevate one of their own. The last time a non-cardinal become pope was more than 6

How do you become Pope? Given the immense responsibility that comes with being Pope, it’s no surprise that the journey to don the papal hat is long one. This drawn-out process is very different to handing in a CV or succeeding in a job interview. Leader

The pope is the head of the Catholic Church and since 1929, he is also the head of the world's smallest sovereign state, the Vatican. Technically, the only requirements to become pope are that you be a male and a practicing Catholic. However, since Po