Explained: Why Irish cardinal Seán Brady won't have a say in Pope selection process

Eva Osborne

Irish cardinal Seán Brady will not have a say in the papal selection process due to his age.

Any baptised Catholic male is eligible to be Pope, but only cardinals have been selected since 1378.

Whoever is selected must have received at least two-thirds of the vote from cardinals under the age of 80 and thus be eligible to participate.

Cardinal Seán Brady, the former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, will not have a vote in the next papal conclave because he is 85 years of age.

Only cardinals who are under the age of 80 at the time the papacy becomes vacant (either by death or resignation of the pope) are eligible to enter the conclave and vote for the new pope.

This rule is meant to ensure that the voting body is made up of relatively active and involved cardinals, who are presumably more in touch with the current needs of the Church.

Because Seán Brady passed the age threshold, he is no longer eligible to participate in any future conclaves, regardless of his previous standing or title.

He still holds the title of cardinal, but he is considered non-elector status.

However, cardinal Kevin Farrell, 77, will have a say.