Pope Revives Two-Thirds Majority for Papal Election

LONDON — Pope Benedict XVI changed the process for electing a pope, reviving the requirement for a two-thirds majority among the conclave of cardinals.

The pope's decision returns the Roman Catholic church to the traditional rules for choosing a leader that were altered in 1996 by his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, Vatican radio said yesterday.

John Paul changed the rules to allow the pope to be chosen by a majority of more than half the cardinals if they couldn't reach a two-thirds agreement after several days of voting.

German-born Benedict, 80, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was elected pope on April 19, 2005, after winning 84 of 115 votes in four ballots.