What happens when the Pope steps down?

The process of replacing the Pope once he steps down is a simple one. An election is held to determine who the new pope will be known as the “Papal conclave”. This election is a meeting of the” College of Cardinals” (Cardinals being a bishop who watches over a country or nation) assembled to elect a new Bishop of Rome, also known as the Pope. There are three stages of election: the "pre-scrutiny", the "scrutiny", and the "post-scrutiny." The “pre-scrutiny” determines who the nominees are, the “scrutiny” is actually voting for a nominee, and “post-scrutiny” is the count of the ballots. 

Ray J