However, Father Torres said, a delegate cannot suggest another vote for a specific candidate or ask who another delegate plans to vote for. Also, the conversations may not take place in groups "to avoid anything that can appear to be a campaign for a candidate or a pressure group," he said.

And, "obviously, it is prohibited to promote yourself," Father Torres said. In fact, in preparing for the election, the congregation delegates elect members of an "anti-ambition" commission to deal with any allegations that someone is campaigning for the office of superior general.

The rules of the Jesuits call for an atmosphere of prayer and penance during the four days of conversations. Little by little, Father Torres said, "already by the third day you are thinking of two or three" candidates who would make a good superior general.

After the fourth day of "murmuratio," the delegates celebrate Mass together, invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit, listen to an admonition by a fellow Jesuit, spend 45 minutes in silence and then begin voting.

To be elected, a candidate must receive at least half plus one of the votes, Father Torres said.

The process works, he said, pointing to the past two elections: Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach was elected on the first ballot in 1983 and Father Nicolas was elected on the second ballot in 2008.

Although the general congregation sets its own calendar, the actual election is expected sometime after Oct. 7, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the former Vatican spokesman and a delegate to the general congregation.

"Once elected, we call the pope to inform him," Father Torres said. Years ago a delegate would walk down the street to the Vatican to inform the pope, but "now we use a cellphone."

Theoretically, any Jesuit priest who has made final vows may be elected, Father Torres said. He does not have to be among the general congregation delegates.

But Father Lombardi told reporters, "If during the 'murmuratio,' I am starting to think that I would like to vote for this person, I would go to him and speak with him to get to know him and find out how he thinks."

"As an elector, I feel a need to have a personal relationship with the person I am thinking about electing," Father Lombardi said. It is not enough that "someone said he is good. No. We must verify that and know him personally."