Who says who the new pope is?

Answer 1

The new Pope is chosen through a vote of Cardinals gathered together, in the strictest of privacy (sequestered) to elect the new Pope. Called a Papal Conclave, the meeting of the College of Cardinals is convened to elect the new Bishop of Rome, also known as the Pope.

The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. They will continue voting and re-voting until finally there is full agreement as to who the new Bishop will be.

Once the decision has been reached, the public, who wait in reflection, reverence and prayer, a small smoking fire, (the burning of the ballots) will be made, whereby smoke from the chimney of the conclave room will be seen.

The eligible cardinals conduct their secret ballots until such time as someone receives a vote of two-thirds plus one. The ballots are then burned after each vote.

Black smoke (straw is mixed with the ballots) indicates a failed ballot, white smoke means a new pope has been elected. As the cardinals meet in isolation, it's the only way to inform the public about the proceedings.

The voting process will go on as long as it takes. It has reportedly even take up to three years (Pope Clement IV, 1268). It is reported that that due to the time taking so long, the Cardinals were finally fed only bread and water, attempting to force them to come to a decision.

Not only is religious piety taken into consideration, but abilities of vision, administration, and the overall needs of the people around the world is paramount in coming to a final decision. Early on, any political pressures are dispensed with, as personal agendas are set aside and dismissed by the majority, until such time the final vote is made.