Nepal

In the terai belt and the cities houses are mostly built in RCC(rod cement and concrete) framework. He is the second non-Italian and the first German Pontiff to be elected since Pope Adrian VI (an ethnic German born in future Dutch territory of the Holy Roman Empire, so he was German in terms of his ethnicity and citizenship). Nowdays houses are built with cement, concrete and rods, with concrete roof or jasta pata(tins). He was then replaced by the German Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and at the same time, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI after more than a quarter of a century in 2005. Most houses in the himalayan region are made of mud and rock with wooden framework to support and khar(a type of grass withlong leaves ) as a shade. He in turn was succeeded by the non-Italian Pope John Paul II (1978–2005), who was an intellectual heavyweight unprecedented since Pope Pius XII. In bel baha, preadolescent girls are "married" to the bel fruit tree, ensuring that the girl becomes and remains fertile. (He had worked with Pacelli in the 1930s and 1940s in the curia.) Yet Pope Paul was succeeded (albeit for a short time) by the non-Curialist Pope John Paul I (1978), who it was said was chosen not as an experienced insider nor administrator, but as a "simple, holy man".

Nepal has a rich tradition of ceremonies, such as nwaran (the christening of a child), and the Pasni, the day a child is first fed rice, and bratabandha (the penance ceremony) and gupha for prepubescent boys and girls, respectively. Montini, Pope Paul VI (1963–1978) like Pius XII, was a curialist. Polygamy is banned by law; relatively isolated tribes in the north, such as the Dolpo, practise polyandry. After a short but dramatic pontificate during which he convoked the Second Vatican Council which resulted in wide ranging changes in the church, the surprise John was replaced by the widely expected choice Cardinal Giovanni Montini, who many believed would have been elected in 1958, had he been a cardinal then. Most marriages are arranged, and divorce is rare. John proved to be a radical break with the two previous popes, and indeed with most of the popes of the 20th century. Main holidays include the National Day (birthday of the king) December 28, Prithvi Jayanti, (January 11), and Martyr's Day (February 18) and a mix of Hindu and Buddhist festivals such as Dashai in autumn, and Tihar late autumn. The contrast between diffident, intellectual and distant Pius XII and the humble, in his own words "ordinary" Good Pope John was dramatic, with none more surprised at the election than Pope John himself, who had his own return rail ticket in his pocket when he was elected.

Saturday is the official weekly holiday. Pius was then replaced by the lower-class, elderly, popular, informal Pope John XXIII (1958–1963). The Nepali year begins in mid-April and is divided into 12 months. He was also the ultimate insider; his family were descended from the papal aristocracy, with his brother working as a lawyer for the Holy See. Radio is listened to throughout the kingdom; as of 2000, there were 12 radio stations. Pius XII was seen as one of the great thinkers in the papacy in the 20th century. Lack of electrification makes this difficult. Pius XI was replaced in 1939 by the aristocratic ultra-insider Curialist, Pius XI's Secretary of State Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, Pope Pius XII (1939–1958).

There is one television service, although many networks, particularly those that originate in India, are available with the installation of increasingly popular satellite dishes. Pius's rugged ultraconservatism contrasted with the low-key moderatism of Giacomo Cardinal della Chiesa, Pope Benedict XV (1914–1922), which again contrasted with the former librarian mountain-climber Achille Cardinal Ratti, Pope Pius XI (1922–1939), who led Roman Catholicism with an authoritarianism more akin to Pope Pius X, who also shared his temper. The Martyrs Soccer League is the national soccer championship. He in turn was succeeded by the lower-class, bluntly outspoken Pope Pius X (1903–1914). Soccer is the most popular sport, followed by cricket and kabaddi. The controversial one-time populist turned conservative, long-lived Pope Pius IX (1846–1878) was succeeded by the aristocratic diplomatic Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903). In recent times, Nepali rock or rock music, sung to Nepali lyrics, has become popular among youth. Past cardinals have often voted for someone radically different to the pope who appointed them.

The sarangi, a four-stringed, hand-carved instrument is usually played by wandering minstrels. The newly elected pope often contrasts dramatically with his predecessor, a tendency expressed by the Italian axiom "After a fat pope a lean pope". Women, even of the musician castes, are less likely than men to play music, except in specific situations such as traditional all-female wedding parties. John Paul I did not want the elaborate coronation ceremony for himself, choosing instead to be consecrated in a Papal Inauguration ceremony. Musical genres from Tibet and India have had a strong influence on traditional Nepalese music. Formerly, the Pope would be crowned by the triregnum or Triple Tiara at the Papal Coronation. Musical styles are a variety of pop, religious and folk music, among other styles. The new Pope then gives his first apostolic blessing, Urbi et Orbi ("to the City [Rome] and to the World").

Music is percussion-based, sometimes with flutes or shawm accompanying the intense, nasal vocal lines. In 1903 Protodeacon Prospero Cardinal Caterini was physically incapable of completing the announcement, so another made it for him. The Newar people are well-known for masked dances that tell stories of the gods and heroes. In such an event the announcement is made by the next senior Deacon, who has thus succeeded as Protodeacon, and not by the new Pope himself. Many Nepalese folktales are enacted in dance and music. It has happened in the past that the Cardinal Protodeacon has himself been the person elected Pope. Traditional stories are rooted in the reality of day-to-day life—tales of love, affection, battles, and demons and ghosts; they reflect and explain local lifestyles, cultures and belief systems. Next, the senior Cardinal Deacon (the Cardinal Protodeacon) appears at the main balcony of the basilica's façade to proclaim the new pope with the Latin phrase:.

Folklore is an integral part of Nepalese society. The Pope dresses by himself, selecting among the three sizes of white robes made available, and returns to the conclave, where the Cardinal Camerlengo places the Fisherman's Ring on his finger and each cardinal pays homage to the new Pope, who sits on a footstool near the altar. Meat, eggs, and fish are also consumed, particularly in the mountainous regions, where the diet tends to be richer in protein. The origin of the name is uncertain, but seems to imply the commixture of joy and sorrow felt by the newly chosen holder of the monumental office. Between these main meals, snacks such as chiura (beaten rice) and tea are consumed. Later, the new Pope goes to the "Room of Tears," a small red room next to the Sistine Chapel. This is consumed twice daily, once in the morning and again after sunset. After the papal name is chosen, the officials are readmitted to the conclave, and the Master of Pontifical Liturgical writes a document recording the acceptance and the new name of the Pope.

A typical Nepalese meal is dal-bhat, boiled lentils served with rice and usually vegetables. In most cases, even if such considerations are absent, Popes tend to choose new papal names; the last Pope to reign under his baptismal name was Pope Marcellus II (1555). Similarities can be observed in the clothing, way of life, language and food. Pope John II was the first to adopt a new papal name; he felt that his original name, Mercurius, was inappropriate, as it was also the name of a Roman god. Culture to the south and Tibetan to the north. Since 533, the new Pope has also decided on the name by which he is to be called at this time. A picture of dal-bhat-tarkari, Nepalese food for lunch and dinner. Only after becoming a bishop does the Pope-elect take office.

Kathmandu, with a population of 80,000, is the largest city in the country. If a priest is elected, the Cardinal Dean ordains him bishop; if a layman is elected, then the Cardinal Dean first ordains him priest, and only then bishop. A majority of the population live in the central highlands despite the migration of a significant section of the population to the fertile Terrai belt in recent years. If he is not a bishop, however, he must be first ordained as one before he can assume office. The northern mountains are sparsely populated. If he does, and is already a bishop, he immediately takes office. Hinduism is the official religion of the country, making it the only officially Hindu nation. The Cardinal Dean then asks the Pope-elect if he assents to the election ("Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?").

Hindu influence is less prominent among the Gurung, Limbu, Bhutia, and Thakali groups, who employ Buddhist monks for their religious ceremonies. Once the election concludes, the junior Cardinal Deacon summons the Secretary of the College of Cardinals and the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations into the hall. Among the Tibeto-Nepalese, those most influenced by Hinduism were the Magar, Sunwar, and Rai peoples. Originally, damp straw was added to the fire to create dark smoke; since 1958 chemicals have been used, and since 2005 bells ring after a successful election in case the white smoke is not unambiguously white. Buddhism was relatively more common among the Newar and Tibeto-Nepalese groups. Dark smoke signals that the ballot did not result in an election, while white smoke signals that a new Pope was chosen. Buddhists are mostly concentrated in the eastern regions and the central Terrai. The colour of the smoke signals the results to the people assembled in St Peter's Square.

Both share common temples and worship common deities and many of Nepal's Hindus could also be regarded as Buddhists. If the first election held in any given morning or afternoon does not result in an election, the cardinals proceed to the next vote immediately; the papers from both ballots are burnt together at the end of the second vote. Differences between Hindus and Buddhists have been in general very subtle and academic in nature due to the intermingling of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. The ballots are then all burnt by the Scrutineers with the assistance of the Secretary of the College and the Masters of Ceremonies. Other languages include Template:Ll 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5%. The Scrutineers add up all of the votes, and the Revisers check the ballots and the names on the Scrutineers' lists to ensure that no error was made. Nepali is the national language with 47.8% of the population speaking it as their first language. Once all of the ballots have been opened, the final post-scrutiny phase begins.

Buddhists make up 10.7%, Muslims 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other religions 0.9%. The last of the Scrutineers reads the name aloud. According to the 2001 census, Hindus constitute 80.6% of the population. Each ballot is unfolded by the first Scrutineer; all three Scrutineers separately write down the name indicated on the ballot. Other groups are the Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8%. If, however, no irregularities are observed, the ballots may be opened and the votes counted. The largest ethnic group is the Chhettri (15.5%). If the number of ballots does not correspond to the number of cardinal electors present, the ballots are burnt, unread, and the vote is repeated.

Total literacy rate is 45.2% (62.7% for males and 27.6% for females). Once all votes have been cast, the first Scrutineer chosen shakes the container, and the last Scrutineer removes and counts the ballots. Life expectancy is 59.8 years (60.9 for males and 59.5 for females). The oath is taken by all cardinals only at the first vote. There are 1,060 males for every 1,000 females. When the Infirmarii return to the Chapel, the ballots are counted to ensure that their number matches with the number of ill cardinals; thereafter, they are deposited in the appropriate receptacle. The median age is 20.07 (19.91 for males and 20.24 for females). If any cardinal elector is by reason of infirmity confined to his room, the Infirmarii go to their rooms with ballot papers and a box.

39% of the population is up to 14 years old, 57.3% are aged between 15 and 64, and 3.7% above 65. Before casting the ballot, each cardinal elector takes a Latin oath, which translates to: "I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected." If any cardinal elector is in the Chapel, but cannot proceed to the altar due to infirmity, the last Scrutineer may go to him and take his ballot after the oath is recited. Nepal has a total population of 27,676,547 as of July 2005, with a growth rate of 2.2%. The cardinal electors proceed, in order of precedence, to take their completed ballots (which bear only the name of the individual voted for) to the altar, where the Scrutineers stand. Divisions:. Then the scrutiny phase of the election commences. Each district is headed by a chief district officer responsible for maintaining law and order and coordinating the work of field agencies of the various government ministries. New Scrutineers, Infirmarii and Revisers are not selected again after the first ballot.

Nepal is divided into 14 zones and 75 districts grouped into five development zones. The junior Cardinal Deacon then draws by lot nine names; the first three become Scrutineers, the second three Infirmarii and the last three Revisers. China mainly seeks cooperation with Nepal on the issues of Tibet. As the cardinals begin to write down their votes, the Secretary of the College of Cardinals, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations and the Masters of Ceremonies exit; the junior Cardinal Deacon then closes the door. These three foreign countries have been vociferous opponents to the crackdown on civil liberties in Nepal. The process of voting comprises three phases: the "pre-scrutiny," the "scrutiny," and the "post-scrutiny." During the pre-scrutiny, the Masters of the Ceremonies prepare ballot papers bearing the words Eligo in Summum Pontificem ("I elect as Supreme Pontiff") and provide at least two to each cardinal elector. In 2005, after King Gyanendra took over, Nepalese relations with India, the US, and the UK have worsened. However, there can be no waiving of the requirement that a valid election takes place only by an absolute majority of the votes.

Some Indians consider Nepal to be part of a greater pan-Indian state, an attitude that has caused Nepalese antagonism towards India. This includes the possibility of eliminating all candidates except the two who have received the greatest number of votes in the previous ballot and reducing the majority require for an election. India considers Nepal as part of its realm of influence, and views Chinese aid with concern. After a further seven ballots, the cardinal electors may decide by an absolute majority, to advise and change the election rules. Although Nepal and India typically have close ties, from time to time Nepal becomes caught up in the problematic Sino-Indian relationship. If, after another seven ballots, no result is achieved, voting is suspended once more, the address being delivered by the senior Cardinal Bishop. Nepalese citizens may work in India without legal restriction. After seven further ballots, the process may again be similarly suspended, with the address now being delivered by the senior Cardinal Priest.

In accordance with a long standing treaty, Indian and Nepalese citizens may travel to each others' countries without a passport or visa. If no result is obtained after three vote days of balloting, the process is suspended for a maximum of one day for prayer and an address by the senior Cardinal Deacon. Nepal has close ties with both of its neighbours, India and China. If a ballot take place on the afternoon of the first day and no-one is elected, or no ballot had taken place, four ballots are held on each successive day: two in each morning and two in each afternoon. Most of the equipment and arms are supplied by The Republic of India.^[2]. On the afternoon of the first day, one ballot may be held. The king is the commander-in-chief of the military, which is currently engaged in the civil war against the Maoist insurgents. Universi Dominici Gregis specifically prohibits media such as newspapers, the radio, and television.

Nepal spends $99.2 million (2004) on its military—1.5% of its GDP. Cardinal electors may not correspond or converse with anyone outside the conclave, by post, radio, telephone or otherwise. Service is voluntary and the minimum age for enlistment is 18 years. Secrecy is maintained during the conclave; the cardinals as well as the conclavists and staff are not permitted to disclose any information relating to the election. Nepal's military consists of the Royal Nepalese Army which includes the Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, (the air force unit under it), and the Nepalese Police Force. Finally, a strictly limited number of servant staff are permitted for housekeeping and the preparing and serving of meals³. According to a statement by Nepalese government in September 2005, parliamentary elections are to be held within the next two years. Priests are available to hear the confession in different languages; two doctors are also admitted.

In August 2005 Deuba was jailed after a Royal Commission found him guilty of corruption. The Secretary of the College of Cardinals, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, two Masters of Ceremonies, two officers of the Papal Sacristy and an ecclesiastic assisting the Dean of the College of Cardinals are also admitted to the conclave. In 2005, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and other ministers were placed under house arrest, and King Gyanendra dissolved the parliament and declared a "state of emergency" which lasted till April. Each cardinal elector may be accompanied by two attendants or conclavists (three if the cardinal elector is ill). Governments in Nepal have tended to be highly unstable; no government has survived for more than two years, either through internal collapse or parliamentary dissolution by the monarch. An ill cardinal may leave the conclave and later be readmitted; a cardinal who leaves for any reason other than illness may not return to the conclave. Other major parties are the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), the pro-royalist National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-ML), a faction of the CPN-UML. Cardinals who arrive after the conclave has begun are admitted nevertheless.

The Nepali Congress Party (NCP), established in the 1940s, is the oldest party in Nepal. After the clarification of the doubts, the election may commence. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council. Following the recitation of prayers, the Cardinal Dean asks if any doubts relating to procedure remain. The judiciary is made of the Sarbochha Adalat—the Supreme Court, appellate courts and various district courts. After the speech concludes, the ecclesiastic leaves. The Cabinet is appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The ecclesiastic makes a speech concerning the problems facing the Church and on the qualities the new Pope needs to have.

The leader of the coalition or party securing the maximum seats in an election is appointed as the Prime Minister. The Master himself may remain, as may one ecclesiastic designated by the Congregations prior to the commencement of the election. The executive comprises the King and the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet). After all the cardinals present have taken the oath, the Master of the Papal Liturgical Celebrations orders all individuals other than the cardinals and conclave participants to leave the Chapel. All males and females 18 years and older may vote. The Cardinal Dean reads the oath aloud in full; in order of precedence, the other cardinal electors merely state, while touching the Gospels, that they "do so promise, pledge and swear.". The legislature has a five-year term, but can be dissolved by the king before its term ends. The Cardinals then take an oath to observe the procedures set down by the apostolic constitutions; to, if elected, defend the liberty of the Holy See; to maintain secrecy; and to disregard the instructions of secular authorities on voting.

The National Council has 60 members, 10 nominated by the king, 35 elected by the House of Representatives and the remaining 15 elected by an electoral college made up of chairs of villages and towns. Then, they gather in the afternoon in the Pauline Chapel of the Palace of the Vatican, proceeding to the Sistine Chapel while singing the Veni Creator. The House of Representatives consists of 205 members directly elected by the people. On the morning of the day designated by the Congregations of Cardinals, the cardinal electors assemble in St Peter's Basilica to celebrate the Eucharist. Nepal's legislature is bicameral constituting of a House of Representatives and a National Council. A vacancy in the papal office may also result from a papal abdication, though no pope has abdicated since Celestine V in 1294 and Gregory XII in 1409. In 1990, King Birendra agreed to large-scale political reforms by creating a parliamentary monarchy with the king as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The conclave normally takes place fifteen days after the death of the Pope, but the Congregations may extend the period to a maximum of twenty days in order to permit other cardinals to arrive in the Vatican City.

Until 1990, Nepal was an absolute monarchy under the executive control of the king. The Congregations also fix the date and time of the commencement of the conclave. Nepal's import partners include India (43%), the United Arab Emirates (10%), China (10%), Saudi Arabia (4.4%), and Singapore (4%). The Congregations must make certain arrangements in respect of the Pope's burial, which by tradition takes place from four to six days of the Pope's death, leaving time for pilgrims to see the dead pontiff, and is to be followed by a nine-day period of mourning (this is known as the novemdiales, Latin for "nine days"). India (48.8%), the US (22.3%), and Germany (8.5%) are its main export partners. The Cardinal Camerlengo and Cardinal Assistants are responsible, among other things, for maintaining the election's secrecy. Imports commodities of mainly gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products and fertiliser total US$1.419 bn. Every three days, new Cardinal Assistants are chosen by lot.

Nepal's exports of mainly carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain total $568 million. The Particular Congregation, which deals with the day-to-day matters of the Church, includes the Cardinal Camerlengo and the three Cardinal Assistants—one Cardinal Bishop, one Cardinal Priest and one Cardinal Deacon—chosen by lot. Per capita income is around US$1,402, ranked 163rd. All cardinals are obliged to attend the General Congregation of Cardinals, except those whose health does not permit, or who are over eighty (but those cardinals may choose to attend if they please). Nepal's GDP for the year 2005 is estimated to be just over US$37bn (adjusted to Purchasing Power Parity), making it the 83rd largest economy in the world. During the sede vacante, as the papal vacancy is known, certain limited powers pass to the College of Cardinals, which is convoked by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. Poverty is acute and many of Nepal's women are sold to Indian brothels, a figure as high as 7,000 each year.^[1] Nepal receives US$50 million a year through the Gurkha soldiers who serve in the Indian and British armies and are highly esteemed for their skill and bravery. The tradition originated to avoid forgery of documents, but today merely is a symbol of the end of the pope's reign.

A lack of employment prospects has encouraged many Nepalese to move to India in search of work. The Cardinal Camerlengo takes possession of the Fisherman's Ring worn by the Pope; the Ring, along with the papal seal, is later destroyed before the College of Cardinals. The rate of unemployment and underemployment approaches half of the working-age population. During the twentieth century the use of the hammer in this ritual has been abandoned; under Universi Dominici Gregis, the Camerlengo must merely declare the Pope's death by calling him three times by his Christian name in the presence of the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, and of the Cleric Prelates, Secretary and Chancellor of the Apostolic Camera. The spectacular landscape and deep, exotic culture of Nepal represents considerable potential for tourism, but growth in this export industry has been stifled by recent political events. The death of the Pope is verified by the Cardinal Camerlengo, or Chamberlain, who traditionally performed the task by gently striking the Pope's head with a small silver hammer and calling out his Christian (not papal) name three times. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce, including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. A Cardinal who is considered to be a prospect for the papacy is referred to informally as being papabile (plural noun: papabili), the term being coined by Vatican watchers in the mid-twentieth century.

Agricultural produce—mostly grown in the Terrai region bordering India—includes rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, and water buffalo meat. Speculation tends to mount when a Pope is ill or aged and shortlists of potential candidates appear in the media. By sector, agriculture employs 81% of the workforce, services 16% and manufacturing/craft-based industry 3%. However, there is inevitably always much speculation about which Cardinals have serious prospects of being elected. Nepal's workforce of about 10 million suffers from a severe shortage of skilled labour. It is considered poor form to campaign for the position of Pope. The distribution of wealth among the people is consistent with that in many developed and developing countries: the highest 10% of households receive nearly 30% of the national income, and the lowest 10% a little more than a tenth of that. Upon the Pope's death, either body's proceedings are suspended, to be resumed only upon the order of the new Pope.

A long-standing economic agreement between Nepal and India underpins a close relationship between the two economies. Universi Dominici Gregis explicitly provides that even if a Synod or ecumenical council is in session at the time of a Pope's death, it may not perform the election. Since the loosening of exchange rate controls in the early 1990s, the black market for foreign exchange has all but disappeared. Under present procedure, however, the Synod may only meet while called by the Pope. The Nepalese Rupee has been tied to the Indian Rupee at an exchange rate of 1.6 for many years. Proposed reforms include a plan to replace the College of Cardinals as the electoral body with the Synod of Bishops, which includes many more members. The inflation rate has dropped to 2.9% after a period of higher inflation during the 1990s. Since the College of Cardinals is a small body, some have suggested that the electorate should be expanded.

The government's budget is about US$665 million, with expenditures of $1.1bn. If the Sub-Dean also cannot participate, the senior Cardinal Bishop participating performs the functions. The country receives foreign aid from India, China, the United States, Japan and the European Union. If the Dean is not entitled to participate in the conclave due to age, his place is taken by the Sub-Dean, who is also always a Cardinal Bishop. A lack of natural resources, its landlocked location, technological backwardness and the long-running civil war have also prevented Nepal from fully developing its economy. Several duties are performed by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who is always a Cardinal Bishop. There are around 100,000 Internet connections, but after the imposition of the "state of emergency", intermittent losses of service have been reported. Under Universi Dominici Gregis, the cardinals are to be lodged in a purpose-built edifice, the Domus Sanctæ Marthæ, but are to continue to vote in the Sistine Chapel.

There is fewer than one telephone for each 46 people; landline services are poor, although mobile telephony in a reasonable state in some parts of the country. Universi Dominici Gregis is the sole constitution governing the election; it abrogates all constitutions previously issued by Popes. Aviation is in a better state, with 46 airports, nine of them with paved runways. The procedures outlined, however, in many cases date to much earlier times. There are just over 4,000 km of paved roads, and one 59 km railway line in the south of the country. In 1996, John Paul II promulgated a new Apostolic Constitution, called Universi Dominici Gregis (Shepherd of the Lord's Whole Flock), which, unless superseded by later regulations, now governs the election of the Pope's successor. Terrain that ranges from hilly to mountainous in the northern two-thirds of the country has made the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. Popes have often written "election constitutions" fine-tuning the rules for the election of their successors: Pope Pius XII's Vacantis Apostolicae Sedis of 1945 governed the conclave of 1958, Pope John XXIII's Summi Pontificis Electio of 1962 that of 1963, and Pope Paul VI's Romano Pontifici Eligendo of 1975 those of 1978.

Agriculture provides a livelihood for some 80% of the population and accounts for about 40% of the GDP, With services comprising 40% and industrial output the remainder. Since 1846, when the Quirinal Palace was used, the Sistine Chapel has always served as the location of the election. Nepal is one of the poorest and least developed nations in the world; up to half of its people live below the poverty line. Within Rome and the Vatican City, different locations have been used for the election. The Himalaya blocks the cold winds from Central Asia in winter, and forms the northern limit of the monsoon wind patterns. Since the Western Schism, however, elections have always been held in Rome (except in 1800, when Neapolitan troops occupying Rome forced the election to be held in Venice), and normally in the Vatican City (which has, since the Lateran treaties of 1929, been recognised as an independent state). Nepal experiences five seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. The location of the conclaves was not fixed until the fourteenth century.

The tropical and subtropical zones lie below 1,200 m, the temperate zone between 1,200 and 2,400 m; the cold zone between 2,400 m and 3,600 m; the subarctic climatic zone between 3,600 and 4,400 m, and the arctic zone above 4,400 m. Several reforms were instituted by John Paul II in 1996. Nepal has five climatic zones, broadly corresponding to altitude. In 1904, Pius X issued a constitution consolidating almost all of the previous ones, making some changes. Deforestation is a major problem in all regions, with resulting erosion and degradation of ecosystems. Gregory XV issued two bulls that covered the most minute of details relating to the election; the first, issued in 1621, concerned electoral processes, while the other bull, issued in 1622, fixed the ceremonies to be observed. Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak is also located on its eastern border with Sikkim. In 1562, Pius IV issued a papal bull that introduced regulations relating to the secrecy of the ballots and other procedural matters.

Eight of the top ten highest mountains in the world are located in Nepal. Gregory X's strict regulations were later abrogated in 1276 by Adrian V, but after he was elected in 1294 following a two-year vacancy, Celestine V restored them. The world's highest mountain, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali) 8,850 m is located on the border with China. During the conclave, no cardinal was to receive any ecclesiastical revenue. The Mountain Region is contiguous with the Hill Region and contains the highest region in the world. Food was to be supplied through a window; after three days of the meeting, the cardinals were to receive only one dish a day; after five days, they were to receive just bread and water. Unlike the heavily populated valleys, elevations above 2,500 m are sparsely populated. No cardinal was allowed to be attended by more than one servant unless ill.

Despite its geographical isolation and limited economic potential, the region always has been the political and cultural centre of Nepal. Cardinals were to be secluded in a closed area; they were not even accorded separate rooms. The hilly belt includes the Kathmandu Valley, the country's most fertile and urbanised area. To reduce further delays, Gregory X introduced stringent rules relating to the election procedures. Two low mountain ranges, the Mahabharat Lekh and Shiwalik Range (also known as the Churia Range) dominate the region. As a result, the cardinals soon elected Gregory X, ending an interregnum of almost three years. The Hill Region (Pahar in Nepali) abuts the mountains and varies between 1,000 and 4,000 m in altitude. When the cardinals still failed to elect a Pope, the city refused to send in any materials except bread and water.

This region has a hot, humid climate. After the death of Clement IV in 1268, the city of Viterbo was also forced to resort to the seclusion of cardinals in the episcopal palace. The Terai Plains, bordering India are part of the northern rim of the Indo-Gangetic plains, were formed and are fed by three major rivers: the Koshi, the Narayani (India's Gandak River), and the Karnali. The method was adopted, for example, in 1216 by the city of Perugia and in 1241 by the city of Rome. These ecological belts run east–west and are bisected by Nepal's major river systems. To resolve them, authorities often resorted to the forced seclusion of the cardinal electors. Nepal is commonly divided into three physiographic areas—the Mountain, Hill, and Terai Regions. In earlier years, papal elections sometimes suffered prolonged deadlocks.

Efforts are underway to try and make this area a free-trade zone. He declared that any cardinal who communicated his government's veto would suffer excommunication, or expulsion from Church communal life. Although Nepal shares no boundary with Bangladesh, the two countries are separated by a narrow strip of land about 24 km wide, known as the Chicken's Neck. Cardinal Sarto, who chose the name Pius X, abolished the right of the veto. Nepal is of roughly rectangular shape, 850 km wide and 200 km broad, with an area of 147,181 km². Consequently, the College chose Giuseppe Cardinal Sarto with 55 votes. With the final day coming near there has been rise in demonstration against the King's Government and a week long all Nepal bandh is called by the Maoists starting from february 5. Austria became the last nation to exercise the power in 1903, when Cardinal Puzyna de Kosielsko informed the College of Cardinals that Austria opposed the election of Mariano Cardinal Rampolla (who had received 29 out of 60 votes in one ballot).

A few weeks later, the government stated that parliamentary elections would be held by 2007..The municipality election is slated for february 8, 2006. After the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806, its place was taken by Austria (which was a part of the Empire and whose ruler was also Holy Roman Emperor). In September 2005, the Maoists declared a three-month unilateral ceasefire. No vetoes could be employed after an election. On 2005-02-01, Gyanendra dismissed the entire government and assumed full executive powers to quash the Maoist movement. Therefore, the nation's cardinals did not announce the use of the power until the very last moment when the candidate in question seemed likely to get elected. In the face of unstable governments and a Maoist siege on the Kathmandu Valley in August 2004, popular support for the monarchy began to wane. The power of exclusion was, by the same custom, only exercisable by any nation once.

Following the carnage, the throne was inherited by Birendra's brother Gyanendra. By an informal convention, each nation was allowed to veto not more than one papal candidate; any decision made by a nation was conveyed by one of its cardinals. On June 1, 2001, the Heir Apparent Crown Prince Dipendra went on a killing spree in the royal palace, a violent response to his parents' refusal to accept his choice of wife. From the sixteenth century, certain Catholic nations were allowed to exercise the so-called "right of exclusion" or "veto". This has led to the Nepal Civil War with more than 12,000 deaths. In 1119, the Holy Roman Empire acceded to the Concordat of Worms, accepting the papal decision. In 1996, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) started a bid to replace the parliamentary system with a socialist republic. Gregory VII was the last to submit to the interference of the Holy Roman Emperors; the breach between him and the Holy Roman Empire caused by the Investiture Controversy led to the abolition of the Emperor's role.

After years of power wrangling between the king and the government, the democratic experiment was dissolved in 1959, that a "partyless" panchayat system was made to govern Nepal until 1989, when the "Jan Andolan" (People's) Movement forced the monarchy to accept constitutional reforms and to establish a multiparty parliament in May 1991. In 1059, the same papal bull that restricted suffrage to the cardinals also recognised the authority of the Holy Roman Emperor, at the time Henry IV, but only as a "concession" made by the Pope, thus establishing that the Holy Roman Emperor had no authority to intervene in elections except where permitted to do so by papal agreements. Forced to act, India sponsored both King Tribhuvan as Nepal's new ruler in 1951, and a new government, mostly comprising the Nepali Congress Party. In 898, riots forced John IX to recognise the superintendence of the Holy Roman Emperor; the local secular rulers in Rome also continued to exert a great influence, especially during the tenth century period known as the pornocracy. Meanwhile, with the annexation of Tibet by the Chinese in 1950, India faced the prospect of an expansive military and was thus keen to avoid instability in Nepal. While the first two Holy Roman Emperors, Charlemagne and Louis, did not interfere with the Church, Lothar claimed that an election could not be conducted except in the presence of imperial ambassadors. In the late 1940s, newly emerging pro-democracy movements and political parties in Nepal were critical of the Rana autocracy. In the 9th century, a new empire—the Holy Roman Empire, which was German, not Italian—came to exert control over the elections of Popes.

In 1923 the United Kingdom and Nepal formally signed an agreement of friendship, in which Nepal's independence was recognised by the UK. Thereafter, the Emperor was only required to be notified; the requirement was dispensed with by Zacharias and by his successors. The Ranas were staunchly pro-British, and assisted the British during the Sepoy Rebellion in 1857, and later in both World Wars. Lengthy delays were caused by the sojourns to and from Constantinople; when Benedict II complained about them, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV acquiesced, ending the confirmation of elections by the Emperors. The king was made a titular figure, and the post of Prime Minister was made powerful and hereditary. Once the electors arrived at a choice, they were required to send a delegation to Constantinople requesting the Emperor's consent, which was necessary before the individual elected could take office. Bahadur emerged victorious and founded the Rana lineage. A procedure was adopted whereby officials were required to notify the Exarch of Ravenna (who would relay the information to the Byzantine Emperor) upon the death of a Pope before proceeding to the election.

Armed clashes between military personnel and administrators loyal to the queen led to the execution of several hundred princes and chieftains around the country. By the end of the 530s, the Ostrogothic monarchy was overthrown, and power passed to the Byzantine Emperors (who are known as the Eastern Roman Emperors). In 1846, a discovered plot to overthrow Jang Bahadur, a fast-rising military leader by the reigning queen, led to the Kot Massacre. In 532, John II formally recognised the right of the Ostrogothic monarchs to ratify elections. Factionalism among the royal family and rival political parties led to a period of instability after the war. After the demise of the Western Roman Empire, clout passed to the Ostrogothic Kings of Italy. The Treaty of Sugauli was signed ceding parts of the Terrai and Sikkim to the Company in exchange for Nepalese autonomy. He ordered that in future cases, controverted elections would be settled by fresh elections; the method was never applied before its lapse.

Rivalry between Nepal and the British East India Company over the annexation of minor states bordering Nepal eventually led to the Anglo-Nepalese War (1815–16), in which Nepal suffered a complete rout. In 418, Honorius settled a controverted election, upholding Boniface I over the challenger Eulalius. A dispute and subsequently war with Tibet over the control of mountain passes forced the Nepalese to retreat and pay heavy repatriations. For example, the Roman Emperors once held considerable sway in the elections of Popes. This event marked the birth of the modern nation of Nepal. For the greater part of its history, the Church has been influenced in the choice of its leaders by powerful monarchs and governments. After several bloody battles and sieges, he managed to unify Nepal three years later in 1768. New rules introduced by John Paul II have formally abolished these long-unused systems; now, election is always by ballot.

After seeking arms and aid from India, and buying the neutrality of bordering Indian kingdoms, he embarked on his mission in 1765. The last election by compromise was that of John XXII (1316), and the last election by acclamation was that of Gregory XV (1621). After centuries of petty rivalry between the three kingdoms, in the mid-18th century Prithvi Narayan Shah, a Gorkha ruler set out to unify the kingdoms. When voting by scrutiny, the electors cast secret ballots. This unity was short-lived: in 1482 the kingdom was carved into three: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhadgaon. When voting by compromise, the deadlocked College of Cardinals would select a committee of cardinals to conduct an election. By the late 14th century much of the country began to come under a unified rule. When voting by acclamation, the cardinals would unanimously declare the new Pope quasi afflati Spiritu Sancto (as if inspired by the Holy Spirit).

Initially their reign was marked by upheaval before the kings consolidated their power over the next 200 years. Electors formerly made choices by three methods: by acclamation, by compromise and by scrutiny. By the early 12th century, leaders were emerging whose names ended with the Sanskrit suffix malla ("wrestler"). John Paul's constitution allows election by absolute majority if deadlock still prevails seven ballots after the address by the senior Cardinal Bishop. Under the Chalukayas, Nepal's religious establishment changed as the kings patronised Hinduism instead of the prevailing Buddhism. In 1996, John Paul II restored the two-thirds majority requirement, but not the prohibition on cardinals voting for themselves. By the late 11th century, southern Nepal came under the influence of the Chalukaya Empire of southern India. In 1945, however, Pius XII dispensed with the procedure, compensating for the change by increasing the requisite majority to two-thirds plus one.

The Licchavi dynasty went into decline in the late eighth century and was followed by a Newari era, from 879, although the extent of their control over the entire country is uncertain. Cardinals were not allowed to vote for themselves; an elaborate procedure was adopted to ensure secrecy while at the same time preventing cardinals from voting for themselves². From the late fifth century CE, rulers called the Licchavis governed the area. A simple majority sufficed for an election until 1179, when the Third Lateran Council increased the required majority to two-thirds. By 250 BCE, the region came under the influence of the Mauryan empire of northern India, and later became a puppet state under the Gupta Dynasty in the fourth century CE. In the current day, any baptised male, except for a heretic or schismatic can be elected by the College of Cardinals.¹ Women have never been eligible for the papacy; claims that there was a female Pope, including the supposed Pope Joan, are fictitious. One of the princes of the Sakya confederation was Siddharta Gautama (563–483 BCE), who renounced his royalty to lead an ascetic life and came to be known as the Buddha ("the enlightened one"). Prior to Benedict and John Paul, the last Pope to hail from a nation outside Italy was the Dutchman (ethnically German) Adrian VI, elected in 1522.

Around 1000 BCE, small kingdoms and confederations of clans arose in the region. There is no requirement that a Bishop of Rome be Italian; the present incumbent, Benedict XVI, is German, and his predecessor, John Paul II, was Polish. Indo-Iranian / Aryan tribes entered the valley around 1500 BCE. In 1378, Urban VI became the last Pope who was not a cardinal at the time of his election. It appears that people who were probably of Tibeto-Burman ethnicity lived in Nepal 2,500 years ago. In 1179, the Third Council of the Lateran reversed these requirements, once more allowing laymen to be elected (this does not mean the person elected remains an unordained layman while serving as pope; see acceptance and proclamation below). Neolithic tools found in the Kathmandu Valley indicate that people have been living in the Himalayan region for at least 9,000 years. In 769, the candidate was required to be a clergyman; the requirements later became more stringent, with only cardinals being eligible to be elected.

. Originally, lay status did not bar election to the Bishopric of Rome. On the pretext of quashing the insurgents, who now control about seventy percent of the country, the king unilaterally declared a "state of emergency" early in 2005, closing down the parliament and assuming all executive powers. Of the Church's current 182 cardinals, 116 are under eighty years of age, and thus qualified to vote on a papal successor. The Maoists have sought to overthrow the monarchy and establish their own form of republic; this has led to a civil war in which more than 12,000 people have died (see Nepalese civil war). John Paul II also changed the rule so that cardinals that were under eighty on the day the Holy See become vacant but turn eighty before the conclave start still have a vote. This arrangement has been marked by increasing instability, both in the parliament and, since 1996, throughout large swathes of the country that have been fought over by Maoist insurgents. Even this limitation was disregarded by John Paul II.

After a long and rich history, during which the region has splintered and coalesced under a variety of absolute rulers, Nepal became a constitutional monarchy in 1990. In 1970, Paul VI decreed that cardinals over the age of eighty were ineligible to be part of the electorate, and also increased the limit on the number of cardinal electors to 120. The exact origin of the name Nepal is uncertain, but the most popular understanding is that it is derived from Ne (holy) and pal (cave). Having fallen to as few as seven members in the 13th century, the College grew until in 1587, Sixtus V limited the cardinalate to 70 members (six Cardinal Bishops, 50 Cardinal Priests, and 14 Cardinal Deacons) but Popes since John XXIII have paid no heed to the guideline. Kathmandu is the capital and largest city. Furthermore, it was declared that no council would have authority over the Pope, and that a papal election could not be undone. Nepal boasts eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest on the border with China. Since that election, the cardinals have remained the sole electors of Popes.

For a relatively small country, the Nepali landscape is uncommonly diverse, ranging from the humid Terai in the south to the lofty Himalayas in the north. The Council then proceeded to elect Pope Martin V, ending the Papal Schism. Nepal has the distinction of being the world's only Hindu state, with over eighty percent of the people following this faith. The conflict was only resolved by the Council of Constance (which met between 1414 and 1418), which received the abdication of one claimant and deposed the two others. The Kingdom of Nepal (IPA: /[nəˈpɑːl]/ listen (help·info)) is a landlocked Himalayan country in South Asia, bordering the People's Republic of China to the north and India to the south, east and west. The Council of Pisa met in 1409 to resolve the conflict, but only managed to elect a third claimant. Eastern: Sagarmatha (13), Kosi (7), Mechi (10). Later, in the same year, the cardinals moved to Fondi and elected another rival Pope.

Central: Bagmati (1), Janakpur (5), Narayani (11). After the death of the French-born Pope Gregory XI in that year, Romans rioted to ensure the election of an Italian; the cardinals complied by choosing Pope Urban VI. Western: Dhawalagiri (3), Gandaki (4), Lumbini (8). The cardinals' exclusive right to elect the Pope was questioned during the Papal Schism that began in 1378. Mid Western: Karnali (6) Bheri (2), Rapti (12). A Synod of the Lateran held in 1139 removed the requirement that the assent of the lower clergy and the laity be obtained. Far Western: Mahakali (9), Sethi (14). The most senior cardinals, the Cardinal Bishops, were to meet first and discuss the candidates before summoning the Cardinal Priests and Cardinal Deacons for the actual vote.

A major change was introduced in 1059, when Nicholas II decreed that the cardinals were to elect a candidate, who would take office after receiving the assent of the clergy and laity. The Lateran Synod held in 769 officially abolished the theoretical suffrage held by the Roman people, though in 862, a Synod of Rome restored it to Roman noblemen. The lack of clarity in the election procedures often resulted in the election of rival Popes or antipopes. The candidate would then be submitted to the people for their approbation; Romans typically signified approval (or disapproval) tumultuously.

The true electoral body was the clergy, which did not cast votes, instead selecting the Pope by general consensus or by acclamation (with bishops supervising the process). Later, however, this method was replaced in Rome and elsewhere with that of election by the clergy and laity of the community and the bishops of neighbouring dioceses. The earliest bishops were most likely chosen by the founders of their communities. Procedures similar to the present system were introduced in 1274 with the Second Council of Lyons.

The procedures relating to the election of the Pope have undergone almost two millennia of development. . Popes may make rules relating to election procedures; they may determine the composition of the electoral body, replacing the entire College of Cardinals if they were to so choose. In earlier times, members of the clergy and the people of Rome were entitled to participate, in much the same way as the laity helped determine the choice of bishops throughout the Catholic Church during this early period.

Since the year 1059, the College of Cardinals has served as the sole body charged with the election of the Pope, the source of the term Prince of the church for cardinals. They are now held in the Sistine Chapel in the Palace of the Vatican. Conclaves have been employed since the Second Council of Lyons decreed in 1274 that the electors should meet in seclusion. The electors form a conclave, from the Latin phrase cum clave ("with a key"), referring to the "locking away" of the electors during the process.

A papal election is the method by which the Roman Catholic Church fills the office of Bishop of Rome, whose incumbent is known as the Pope, the head of the Church.