A look at potential successors and challenges ahead
POSSIBLE PAPAL SUCCESSORS

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Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German who is the Vatican's watchdog on doctrine. <li>
Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Austria <li>
Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi of Italy. <li>
Cardinal Francis Arinze, of Nigeria. Based at Vatican, key figure arranging interfaith dialogue among Catholics, Muslims and Hindus. <li>
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina. Praised for humility, is advocate for poor and conservative on doctrinal issues. <li>
Cardinal Claudio Hummes of Brazil. Seen as progressive on social issues and conservative on doctrine. <li>
Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico. Reputation as strict conservative in doctrine but outspoken against corruption, fraud and poverty. <li>
Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras. Multilingual, campaigned against corruption and foreign debt. Considered more liberal than other Latin American cardinals.

FACTOR: LEADERSHIP STYLE
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Pope John Paul had a strong personality and hands-on management style. <li>
Some want less Vatican input on day-to-day operations of dioceses. <li>
Others believe Rome should stay deeply involved to crack down on dissent. <li>
Some want more input -- saying cardinals and bishops should have more say. Others think power should remain almost entirely with the pope.

FACTOR: LANGUAGE
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The cardinals will look for a man with a strong command of English and Italian. <li>
The next pope will need to communicate with the world's Catholics and with church officials in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Vatican.

FACTOR: AGE<li>
John Paul's papacy of 26 years has been one of the longest in church history. <li>
The cardinals may back an older candidate as a "transitional pope" whose tenure may not be quite so long.

FACTOR: GEOGRAPHY
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John Paul was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. <li>
Vatican observers disagree over whether there will be pressure pick an Italian again. <li>
They could also feel pressure to pick someone from the Third World, where there is the greatest growth in the church.

WHAT ABOUT AN AMERICAN POPE? <li>
Church experts agree there's almost no chance. <li>
The cardinals wouldn't want the impression that the church is influenced by the world's only superpower.

THE ISSUE OF CELIBACY<li>
Some Catholics hope that the church will make celibacy optional for priests. <li>
Others hope women will be ordained. <li>
Church experts say both are extremely unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Choose A New Pope?

Facts about how the Catholic Church chooses a new pope

BASICS
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The new pope is chosen by cardinals who are 80 years old or younger. <li>
They vote in rounds. Initially it takes two-thirds of votes to become pope. <li>
After a number of rounds, it takes a simple majority. (See below). <li>
The pope may be any baptized Roman Catholic male. <li>
But it has been a cardinal since 1378.

WHEN DO THEY VOTE? <li>
On April 18, the eligible cardinals start to meet in conclave. <li>
The day starts with a 10 a-m Mass (4 a-m Eastern). <li>
In the afternoon, the conclave takes the first vote. <li>
After that, if no pope is elected, they vote twice each morning and once each afternoon. <li>
If they haven't elected anyone on the first nine ballots, they can take a day off to discuss.

WHO GETS TO VOTE? <li>
The new pope is elected by the College of Cardinals. <li>
Cardinals are next highest ranking members of the church after the pope. <li>
When choosing the pope, they meet in what's called a conclave. <li>
Only cardinals who are under 80 years old can vote or even enter the conclave. <li>
There can be only 120 such cardinals at any one time. <li>
The voting is done in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. <li>
Cardinals vote by silent ballot.

WHO ARE THE ELECTORS? <li>
There are 117 eligible electors. <li>
But two aren't participating because of poor health. <li>
All but three had been appointed by John Paul II. <li>
The average age of the electors is 71.7. <li>
About 49.2% are from Europe. 16% of all electors are from Italy. <li>
The Third World has 37.8%. (NOTE: this overlaps with other categories) <li>
Latin America has 18.5%. <li>
North America (US & Canada) has 11.7%. <li>
Africa has 10.1% <li>
Asia has 9.2% <li>
The United States has 11 electors or 9.2%. That's the second highest for any country, following Italy.

RITUALS OF VOTING<li>
During the conclave, cardinals can't have any contact with the outside world. <li>
That means no phone calls, newspapers, letters, e-mail or other communication. <li>
Each voting cardinal fills out a paper ballot that reads "Eligo in suumum pontificem" or "I elect as supreme Pontiff...". <li>
They write down their choice, fold the ballot and take it to the altar in the Sistine Chapel. <li>
Each cardinal holds up the ballot high and then puts it into a chalice. <li>
The ballots are burned after they are counted. <li>
If a new pope is selected, they are burned to give off white smoke to let crowds know. <li>
If there is no decision yet, the ballots are burned to give off black smoke.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT <li>
Comes from the dean of the College of Cardinals. <li>
He steps onto the main balcony of the Vatican and declares to the World: "Habemus Papam!" "We have a Pope!"