The Pope heads the Roman Catholic Church and resides in Vatican City. A pope is elected by a college of cardinals during a special conclave. A papal election is always held behind closed doors and is therefore, in principle, strictly secret. How does such an election work?
For life
Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church . Whoever becomes pope usually remains so for the rest of his life, although in theory this can be deviated from due to health and mental capacity. When a pope dies, a new one must be elected. Such a papal election is usually called a conclave . Pope Benedict 2013 his resignation on February 28. announced in 2013. This made the question surrounding the election of a new pope topical again.
Conclave
The word conclave is derived from the Latin words cum clave , which literally means: with key. In other words: a conclave is a secret meeting that usually takes place behind closed doors. In the event of a papal election, it is also literally with closed doors, because the doors are locked.
Attendees
A maximum of 120 cardinals, who may not be older than 80 years, participate in the papal election. Although it is theoretically possible for them to choose a non-cardinal, the new pope is usually chosen from among themselves. Cardinals entitled to vote must be present, unless they are ill or have other compelling reasons. Those reasons are reviewed by the College of Cardinals, so it’s not something they can decide for themselves. A cardinal who is ill when the conclave begins may still be admitted later. The cardinals present are also obliged to vote.
Sedisvacation
The period between the death of a pope and the election of his successor is called sedisvacatio (Latin: Seat that is empty). During this period, the leadership of the church is in the hands of the College of Cardinals. Based on a 1996 document (drafted by Pope John Paul II) on the papal election, it is determined that the new papal election can begin fifteen days after the death of a pope, but must begin no later than the twentieth day.
Sistine Chapel
The conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel , which is located near St. Peter’s Church in Rome. All voting cardinals reside here under lock and key, together with the necessary service personnel. Since 1996, the cardinals have been staying in a special guesthouse for the night. The cardinals may not be approached during transportation to and from that guesthouse. By the way, that is not allowed in the Sistine Chapel itself. No television or radio, no internet and no telephone connections. Mobile phones are therefore not allowed inside. Any connections are disabled. The cardinals are not allowed to have any contact with the outside world. It is arranged this way because the outside world is not allowed to exert any influence on the papal election in any way.
Papal flag / Source: Unknown, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Moods
First, a Holy Mass is celebrated, in which the cardinals pray to make a good choice. As long as no new pope has been elected, four voting rounds will take place every day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. In such a voting round, a cardinal receives a ballot paper on which he writes who his candidate is. He then deposits this note in a large chalice placed near the altar. Prayers are said between all voting rounds. If it takes longer to choose a good candidate, a day of rest and reflection is scheduled approximately every three days. There will be no voting round on that day.
Election
A pope is elected by a two-thirds majority of votes. If 120 cardinals are present and voting, 80 of them must support the same candidate. That is a large number, so it is rare for such a large majority to emerge in the first voting rounds. If after 30 rounds of voting there is still no two-thirds majority for a particular candidate, the papal chamberlain (camerlengo) can intervene. In consultation with the cardinals, it can then be decided to drop the two-thirds majority and to use a simple majority of votes, i.e. half + 1. Then 61 of the 120 cardinals must vote in favor of a particular candidate.
Vote failed
The ballot papers are burned at the end of the morning and afternoon. If a voting round failed, or there was not a two-thirds majority for one of the candidates, burning the notes produces normal, i.e. black, smoke. The people in the square outside see the black smoke rising and know that a new pope has not yet been elected.
Acceptance
If one of the cardinals has the required majority, the dean of the college of cardinals, who presides over the conclave, asks whether the elected person accepts his election. If the candidate answers ‘ Accepto ‘ (Latin: I accept, I accept) then he is Pope. The new pope then says which name he wants to bear as pope.
Pope Benedict XVI / Source: Peter Nguyen, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-2.0)
Voting successful
The vote was successful, there is a new pope who has now announced his new name at the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. The people outside don’t know anything yet, but they are informed by burning the ballot papers, along with wet straw or chemicals. The smoke that is now rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel is white, this tells the people waiting outside in the square that there is a new pope. Because it is not so easy to tell whether smoke is white or black, from now on the bells of St. Peter’s will also be rung at the same time.
Habemus Papam
The President of the College of Cardinals then addresses the crowd in the square with the words habemus papam . (Latin: We have a Pope). The whole formula in Latin is a bit longer. Then the newly elected Pope also comes forward and pronounces the blessing Urbi et Orbi (for city and country). The last two popes (John Paul II and Benedict XVI) also gave short speeches.
Duration of the election
A papal election can happen quickly, but it can also take a very long time. There are examples in history of a papal election lasting a few hours, or a few years. The last popes were elected in a relatively short time, always in a few days. Below you can see how many days and voting rounds were needed for the last four popes.
|
Year |
Amount of days |
Number of voting rounds |
It was chosen |
Pope |
|
1963 |
2 |
3 |
G. Battista Montini |
Paul VI |
|
Aug 1978 |
2 |
4 |
Albino Luciani |
John Paul I |
|
Oct. 1978 |
3 |
6 |
Karol Wojtyla |
John Paul II |
|
2005 |
2 |
4 |
Joseph Ratzinger |
Benedict XVI |
|
2013 |
2 |
5 |
Jorge Bergoglio |
Francis I |
read more
- The Popes of the Catholic Church
- The country of the Pope, from Papal State to Vatican City