After the promulgation of the aforesaid Apostolic Constitution on February 22nd 1996, commented Benedict XVI in today’s "Motu Proprio", John Paul II "received quite a lot of requests of distinguished authority" to restore the earlier "two thirds" rule. Hence the decision, sanctioned by today’s "Motu Proprio", to "repeal the rules prescribed by section 75 of John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution ‘Universi Dominici Gregis’ and replace them with the following rules: if the voting made as per sections 72, 73 and 74 of the Constitution fail, a day of payer, reflection and talks is fixed". At the following ballots, continues the new papal document, the two cardinals who had gained the majority of the votes at the earlier count must act so that "the requirement that also in this ballot a qualified majority of the votes of the cardinals present is required will not be waived". From now on, then, for the Pope to be considered validly elected, instead of one half plus one of the voters, "the majority of two thirds of the cardinals present" will always be required.
