For the Pope "to be considered validly elected, the majority of two thirds of the cardinals attending the conclave is always required". The traditional rule about the majority required for the election of the Supreme Pontiff was restored today by the Pope in a dedicated "Motu proprio", which repeals what had been laid down by section 75 of John Paul II’s "Universi Dominici Gregis", which set forth that the Roman Pontiff was "validly elected", when "the voting fails" , with the vote of "either the absolute majority of voters or by voting only the two names that at the prior count have gained the majority of the votes, also with the absolute majority only". Through today’s "Motu Proprio", Benedict XVI makes an exception for the rule about the election of the Pope by his predecessor, as stated in section 62 of the "Dominaci Gregis", which generally required "two thirds of the votes, out of the total number of the voters present, for the election of the Roman Pontiff to be valid". (continued)
