Electing a New Pope, Papal Conclave

Papal Conclave

A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a new Bishop of Rome or Pope. The conclave has been the procedure for choosing the pope for more than half of the time the church has been in existence, and is the oldest ongoing method for choosing the leader of an institution.

Pope Gregory X decreed during the Second Council of Lyons in 1274 that the cardinal electors should be locked in seclusion cum clave (Latin for "with a key") and not permitted to leave until a new Bishop of Rome has been elected. This was to prevent lengthy elections due to deadlocks that fail to produce a new pope.

The 1492 conclave was the first to be held in the Sistine Chapel, the site of all conclaves since 1878.

Conclave Rules

In 1996, John Paul II promulgated a new Apostolic Constitution, called Universi Dominici Gregis, which with a slight modification by Pope Benedict XVI motu proprios dated 11 June 2007 and 25 February 2013 now governs the election of the pope, abolishing all previous constitutions on the matter, but preserving many procedures that date to much earlier times.

Under Universi Dominici Gregis, the cardinals during conclave are to be lodged in a purpose-built guest house, the Domus Sanctae Marthae (Saint Martha's House), a five-story building containing 106 suites, 22 single rooms and one apartment completed in 1996 adjacent to Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.Cardinal electors used to stay in make shift rooms in the Apostolic Palace.

 Only the College of Cardinals may elect a new pope. Cardinals upon reaching the age of eighty before a conclave start are ineligible to vote in the conclave. Voting continues to be done in the Sistine Chapel.

In theory, any male baptized Catholic is eligible to be elected Bishop of Rome. The last to be elected when not yet a bishop was Pope Gregory XVI in 1831, and the last to be elected when not even a priest was Pope Leo X in 1513, and the last to be elected when not a cardinal was Pope Urban VI in 1378. If someone who is not a bishop is elected, he must be given episcopal ordination before the election is announced to the people. However, in recent history, the College of Cardinals have not elected anyone outside of the Cardinal electors (although they are at liberty to do so). All cardinals are already ordained bishops. 

Traditionally, the vote was conducted by acclamation, by selection (by committee), or by plenary vote. Acclamation was the simplest procedure, consisting entirely of a voice vote, and was last used in 1621. Pope John Paul II abolished vote by acclamation and by selection by committee, and henceforth election will be by full vote by ballot of the Sacred College of Cardinals.

Several duties are performed by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who is always a Cardinal Bishop. If the Dean is not entitled to participate in the conclave owing to age, his place is taken by the Sub-Dean, who is also always a Cardinal Bishop. If the Sub-Dean also cannot participate, the senior Cardinal Bishop participating performs the functions.

Sede vacante

During the sede vacante, as the papal vacancy is known, certain limited powers pass to the College of Cardinals, which is convoked by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. All cardinals are obliged to attend the General Congregation of Cardinals, except those whose health does not permit, or who are over eighty (but those cardinals may choose to attend if they please). 

The Particular Congregation, which deals with the day-to-day matters of the Church, includes the Cardinal Camerlengo and the three Cardinal Assistants—one Cardinal-Bishop, one Cardinal-Priest and one Cardinal-Deacon—chosen by lot. Every three days, new Cardinal Assistants are chosen by lot. The Cardinal Camerlengo and Cardinal Assistants are responsible, among other things, for maintaining the election's secrecy.

The Congregations must make certain arrangements in respect of the pope's burial, which by tradition takes place within four to six days of the pope's death, leaving time for pilgrims to see the dead pontiff, and is to be followed by a nine-day period of mourning (known as the novemdiales, Latin for "nine days"). The Congregations also fix the date and time of the commencement of the conclave. The conclave normally takes place fifteen days after the death of the pope, but the Congregations may extend the period to a maximum of twenty days in order to permit other cardinals to arrive in the Vatican City.

During the sede vacante period, the College of Cardinals is collectively responsible for the government of the Church and of the Vatican itself, under the direction of the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. However, canon law specifically forbids the cardinals from introducing any innovation in the government of the Church during the vacancy of the Holy See. Any decision that requires the assent of the pope has to wait until the new pope has been elected and accepts office.

Election Process

Once the conclave date is set, the cardinal electors (those eligible to vote) will make preparations to stay in the Domus Sanctae Marthae and move in on the day of the conclave or night before. Prior to this date during the Sede Vacante, they are free to stay anywhere in Rome and the daily general congregations continue as usual even with the non-electors.

Before conclave, Cardinal electors are often seen in cafes, restaurants around Rome with other prelates and cardinals having meals, and discussing who would be a good pope. The lobbying is not just done in conclave itself.

During Conclave, the cardinal electors are secluded and ‘locked away’ between the Domus Sanctae Marthae and the Sistine Chapel. The lobbying is done amongst themselves at meals and discussions at the guest house. In the Sistine Chapel, only voting and prayer takes place.

Before the sealing of the Sistine Chapel at the Start of Conclave

In most recent conclaves, the cardinals hear two sermons before the election: one before actually entering the conclave, and one once they are settled in the Sistine Chapel. In both cases, the sermons are meant to lay out the current state of the Church, and to suggest the qualities necessary for a pope to possess in that specific time. The first preacher may speak at one of the meetings of the cardinals held before the actual day of conclave and the other sermon is made just before the doors are finally closed for the conclave. The preacher can be anyone invited to speak, not necessarily the cardinal electors. In fact, all cardinals are given an opportunity to speak at their daily meetings and obviously a schedule is set out to accommodate all of them (the full college of over 120 cardinals).

On the morning of the first day of Conclave, the cardinal electors assemble in St Peter's Basilica to celebrate the Eucharist. Then, they gather in the afternoon in the Pauline Chapel of the Palace of the Vatican, proceeding to the Sistine Chapel while singing the Litany of the Saints. The Cardinals will also sing the Veni Creator Spiritus. They then take an oath to observe the procedures set down by the apostolic constitutions to, if elected:

1. Defend the liberty of the Holy See
2. To maintain secrecy
3. To disregard the instructions of secular authorities on voting. 

The Cardinal Dean reads the oath aloud in full; in order of precedence (where their rank is the same, their birthdate is taken as precedence), the other cardinal electors repeat the oath, while touching the Gospels. The oath is as follows:

Et ego, (first name), Cardinalis (surname), spondeo, voveo, ac iuro. Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec Sancta Dei Evangelia, quae manu mea tango.

(And I, (name) Cardinal, (name), promise, vow and swear. Thus, may God help me and these Holy Gospels which I touch with my hand.)

Expelling the outsiders "Extra omnes!" 

After all the cardinals present have taken the oath, the Master of the Papal Liturgical Celebrations orders all individuals other than the cardinals electors and conclave participants to leave the Chapel. Traditionally, he stands at the door of the Sistine Chapel and calls out: "Extra omnes!" (Latin for, roughly, "Everybody else, out!"). More recently, the microphone is used. He then closes the door. 

The Master himself may remain, as may one ecclesiastic designated by the Congregations prior to the commencement of the election. The ecclesiastic remains to give his sermon concerning the problems facing the Church and on the qualities the new pope needs to have. After the speech concludes, the ecclesiastic leaves. Following the recitation of prayers, the Cardinal Dean (sub-dean  or senior cardinal bishop presiding in absence of the dean due to age) asks if any doubts relating to procedure remain. After the clarification of the doubts, the election may commence. Cardinals who arrive after the conclave has begun are admitted nevertheless. An ill cardinal may leave the conclave and later be readmitted. A cardinal who leaves for any reason other than illness may not return to the conclave.

Although in the past cardinal electors could be accompanied by attendants ("conclavists"), now only a nurse may accompany a cardinal who for reasons of ill-health, as confirmed by the Congregation of Cardinals, needs such assistance. The Secretary of the College of Cardinals, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, two Masters of Ceremonies, two officers of the Papal Sacristy and an ecclesiastic assisting the Dean of the College of Cardinals (or presiding cardinal bishop) are also admitted to the conclave. Priests are available to hear confessions in different languages, two doctors are also admitted. Finally, a strictly limited number of servant staff are permitted for housekeeping and the preparing and serving of meals.

Secrecy is maintained during the conclave. The cardinals as well as the conclavists and staff are forbidden to disclose any information relating to the election. Cardinal electors may not correspond or converse with anyone outside the conclave, by post, radio, telephone or otherwise and eavesdropping is an offense punishable by excommunication latae sententiae. Only three cardinals electors are permitted to communicate with the outside world under grave circumstances, prior to approval of the College, to fulfil their duties: the Major Penitentiary, the Cardinal Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, and the Vicar General for the Vatican City State.

Before the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI, the Sistine Chapel was "swept" using the latest electronic devices to detect any hidden "bugs" or surveillance devices (there were no reports that any were found, but in previous conclaves press reporters who had disguised themselves as conclave servants were discovered). Universi Dominici Gregis specifically prohibits media such as newspapers, the radio, and television.  Mobile phones and emails or computers are not allowed in Conclave and ‘surrendered before it starts. Wi-Fi access is blocked in Vatican City and wireless signal jammers are deployed at the Sistine Chapel to prevent any form of electronic communications to or from the Cardinal electors. 

Voting

On the afternoon of the first day, one ballot may be held. If a ballot takes place on the afternoon of the first day and no-one is elected, or no ballot had taken place, four ballots are held on each successive day: two in each morning and two in each afternoon. Before voting in the morning and again before voting in the afternoon, the electors take an oath to obey the rules of the conclave. If no result is obtained after three vote days of balloting, the process is suspended for a maximum of one day for prayer and an address by the senior Cardinal Deacon. 

After seven further ballots, the process may again be similarly suspended, with the address now being delivered by the senior Cardinal Priest. If, after another seven ballots, no result is achieved, voting is suspended once more, the address being delivered by the senior Cardinal Bishop. After a further seven ballots, there shall be a day of prayer, reflection and dialogue. In the following ballots, only the two names who received the most votes in the last ballot shall be eligible in a runoff election. However, the two people who are being voted on, if Cardinal electors, shall not themselves have the right to vote. 

The process of voting comprises three phases: the "pre-scrutiny", the "scrutiny", and the "post-scrutiny."

In the Sistine Chapel “Pre-scrutiny “

During the pre-scrutiny, the Masters of the Ceremonies prepare ballot papers bearing the words Eligo in Summum Pontificem ("I elect as Supreme Pontiff") and provide at least two to each cardinal elector. As the cardinals begin to write down their votes, the Secretary of the College of Cardinals, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations and the Masters of Ceremonies exit. Only the Cardinal Electors remain. The junior Cardinal Deacon then closes the door. The junior Cardinal Deacon then draws by lot nine names; the first three become Scrutineers, the second three Infirmarii and the last three Revisers. New Scrutineers, Infirmarii and Revisers are not selected again after the first scrutiny; the same nine cardinals perform the same task for the second scrutiny. After lunch, the election resumes with the oath to obey the rules of the conclave taken anew when the cardinals again assemble in the Sistine Chapel. Nine names are chosen for new scrutineers, infirmarii, and revisers. The third scrutiny then commences, and if necessary, a fourth immediately follows. No changes in these rules were made by Benedict XVI in 2007. These rules were followed, so far as is known, given the secrecy of a conclave, in electing Pope Francis in March 2013.

Scrutiny

The scrutiny phase of the election is as follows: The cardinal electors proceed, in order of precedence, to take their completed ballots (which bear only the name of the individual voted for) to the altar, where the Scrutineers stand. Before casting the ballot, each cardinal elector takes a Latin oath, which translates to: "I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected." If any cardinal elector is in the Chapel, but cannot proceed to the altar due to infirmity, the last Scrutineer may go to him and take his ballot after the oath is recited. 

If any cardinal elector is by reason of infirmity confined to his room, the Infirmarii go to their rooms with ballot papers and a box. Any such sick cardinals take the oath and then complete the ballot papers. When the Infirmarii return to the Chapel, the ballots are counted to ensure that their number matches with the number of ill cardinals; thereafter, they are deposited in the appropriate receptacle. This oath is taken by all cardinals as they cast their ballots. If no one is chosen on the first scrutiny, then a second scrutiny immediately follows. A total of four scrutinies are taken each day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

The oath when casting one's vote is therefore anonymous, since the name of the elector is no longer signed on the ballot with that of the candidate. (Previously, the ballot was also signed by the elector and then folded over to cover the signature of the elector and then sealed to result in a semi-secret ballot) This was the procedure prior to 1945. There was no oath taken when actually casting ballots, prior to 1621. Completely secret ballots (at the option of the cardinals present and voting) were sometimes used prior to 1621, but these secret ballots had no oath taken when the vote was actually cast. At some conclaves prior to 1621, the cardinals verbally voted and sometimes stood in groups to facilitate counting the votes cast. The signature of the elector covered by a folded-over part of the ballot paper was added by Gregory XV in 1621, to prevent anyone from casting the deciding vote for himself. Cardinal Pole of England refused to cast the deciding vote for himself in 1549 (and was not elected), but in 1492 Cardinal Borgia (Pope Alexander VI) did cast the deciding vote for himself. Faced by the mortal challenge to the papacy emanating from Protestantism, and fearing schism due to several stormy conclaves in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Gregory XV established this procedure to prevent any cardinal from casting the deciding vote for himself.

Since 1945, a cardinal can again cast the deciding vote for himself, though the 2/3 majority rule has always been continued, except when John Paul II had modified that rule in 1996 (after 33 ballots, a simple majority was sufficient), with the 2/3 majority rule restored in 2007 by Benedict XVI.

Prior to 1621, the only oath taken was that of obedience to the rules of the conclave in force at that time, when the cardinals entered the conclave and the doors were locked, and each morning and afternoon as they entered the Sistine Chapel to vote. Gregory XV added the additional oath, taken when each cardinal casts his ballot, to prevent cardinals wasting time in casting "courtesy votes" and instead narrowing the number of realistic candidates for the papal throne to perhaps only two or three. Speed in electing a pope was important, and that meant using an oath so as to get the cardinals down to the serious business of electing a new pope and narrowing the number of potentially electable candidates. The reforms of Gregory XV in 1621 and reaffirmed in 1622 created the written detailed step-by-step procedure used in choosing a pope. This procedure was essentially the same as that which was used in 2005 to elect Benedict XVI and Francis in 2013. 

The biggest change since 1621 was the elimination of the rule that required the electors to sign their ballots resulting in the detailed voting procedure of scrutiny making use of anonymous oaths. This was perhaps the most significant change in the modern era made by Pius XII in 1945. 

Once all votes have been cast, the first Scrutineer chosen shakes the container, and the last Scrutineer removes and counts the ballots. If the number of ballots does not correspond to the number of cardinal electors present, the ballots are burnt, unread, and the vote is repeated. If, however, no irregularities are observed, the ballots may be opened and the votes counted. Each ballot is unfolded by the first Scrutineer; all three Scrutineers separately write down the name indicated on the ballot. The last of the Scrutineers reads the name aloud who then pierces the ballot with a needle and thread, stringing all the ballots together and tying the ends of the thread to ensure accuracy and honesty. Balloting continues until someone is elected by a two-thirds majority.

Once all of the ballots have been opened, the final post-scrutiny phase begins.

Post-scrutiny 

The Scrutineers add up all of the votes, and the Revisers check the ballots and the names on the Scrutineers' lists to ensure that no error was made. The ballots are then all burnt by the Scrutineers with the assistance of the Secretary of the College and the Masters of Ceremonies. If the first scrutiny held in any given morning or afternoon does not result in an election, the cardinals proceed to the next scrutiny immediately; the papers from both scrutinies are burnt together at the end of the second scrutiny. The ballots are burnt in a special stove installed in the Sistine Chapel for the election.

The colour of the smoke signals the results to the people assembled in St Peter's Square. Dark smoke signals (fumata nera) indicate that the ballot did not result in an election, while white smoke signals (fumata bianca) announcing that a new pope was chosen. With the white smoke, The bells of St. Peter's Basilica will begin to peal, television and radio stations will broadcast the news, Twitter feeds and other social networks will pass the word, and tens of thousands of people in Rome will run to St. Peter's Square.

Originally, in the event a pope was not elected, damp straw was added to the fire to create dark smoke. In the event a new pope is elected, the ballots are burned alone, creating white smoke. Since 1963 coloring chemicals have been added. Beginning in 2005 bells ring after a successful election to augment the white smoke, and especially if the white smoke is not unambiguously white.

 During the 2013 conclave the Vatican disclosed the chemicals used to colour the smoke: potassium chlorate, milk sugar and pine rosin for the white smoke, and potassium perchlorate, anthracene and sulphur for the black.

Acceptance and Proclamation 

Once the election concludes (with someone winning election), the Cardinal Dean (or presiding Cardinal Bishop) summons the Secretary of the College of Cardinals and the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations into the hall. The Cardinal Dean then asks the pope-elect if he assents to the election, saying in Latin: "Acceptasne electionem de te canonice factam in Summum Pontificem? (Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?)" There is no requirement that the pope-elect do so and he is free to say "non accepto" (I don't accept).

In practise, any cardinal who intends not to accept will explicitly state this before he receives a sufficient number of votes to become pope. 

If he accepts, and is already a bishop, he immediately takes office and is Pope from his own words “Accepto”. If he is not a bishop, however, he must be first consecrated as one before he can assume office. If a priest is elected, the Cardinal Dean consecrates him bishop; if a layman is elected, then the Cardinal Dean first ordains him deacon, then priest, and only then consecrates him as bishop. Only after becoming a bishop does the pope-elect take office. These functions of the Dean are assumed, if necessary, by the sub-Dean, and if the sub-Dean is also impeded, they are assumed by the senior cardinal-bishop in attendance. The last time cardinals in a conclave did not choose one of their members was in 1378.

In 2005 the Dean himself—Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger—was elected pope. In 2013, the Dean and sub-Dean were not attendance (over the age limit), and these functions were assumed by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the most senior Cardinal Bishop in conclave.

Since 533, the new pope has also decided on his regnal name. Pope John II was the first to adopt a new papal name; he felt that his original name, Mercurius, was inappropriate, as it was also the name of a Roman god. In most cases, even if such considerations are absent, popes tend to choose new papal names. The last pope to reign under his baptismal name was Pope Marcellus II (1555). After the newly-elected pope accepts his election, the Cardinal Dean asks him about his papal name, saying in Latin: "Quo nomine vis vocari? (By what name do you wish to be called?)" After the papal name is chosen, the officials are readmitted to the conclave, and the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Ceremonies, a notary and two aides serving as witnesses draw up an official statement of the election and the name. 

Later, the new pope goes to the "Room of Tears", a small red-tile room next to the Sistine Chapel. The new pope dresses by himself, choosing a set of pontifical choir robes–consisting of a white cassock, rochet, and red mozzetta–from three sizes provided. He then wears a gold corded pectoral cross, a red and gold embroidered stole, and then dons the white papal zucchetto on his head. In 2013, Pope Francis dispensed with the red mozzetta, rochet, and gold pectoral cross, wearing only the white cassock and his own pectoral cross when he appeared on the central balcony. He also did not emerge wearing the stole, vesting in it only to impart the Apostolic Blessing and removing it shortly after.

The cardinals then hold a small ceremony that involves prayer, reading the Scriptures either from the Gospel of Matthew "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church" or from the Gospel of John, "Feed my sheep." 

Each of the cardinals present in the Sistine Chapel comes up to the new pope, paying him homage and promising him obedience, then they sing together the "Te Deum" hymn of thanksgiving to God and in procession move out of the chapel.

As the new Pope makes his way between the Sistine Chapel and the balcony where he is presented to the people, he will stop for a brief moment of personal prayer and adoration in the Pauline Chapel. 

Next, the Cardinal Protodeacon (the senior Cardinal Deacon) appears at the loggia of the Basilica to proclaim the new pope. He usually proceeds with the traditional Latin formula (assuming the new Pope was a cardinal):

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:Habemus Papam! Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum [forename],Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem [surname], qui sibi nomen imposuit [papal name].

("I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope! The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord,Lord [forename], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church [surname],
who takes to himself the name [papal name].")

During the announcement for Pope Benedict XVI's election, the cardinal protodeacon Jorge Arturo Medina Estévez greeted the crowds first in several different languages "Dear brothers and sisters" before proceeding to the Latin announcement.

It has happened in the past that the Cardinal Protodeacon has himself been the person elected pope. In such an event, the announcement is made by the next senior Deacon, who has thus succeeded as Protodeacon. During the election of Pope Leo XIII in 1878 Protodeacon Prospero Caterini was physically incapable of completing the announcement, so another made it for him.

Following the announcement, the senior Cardinal Deacon retreats, and papal aides unfurl a large banner that usually bears the previous pope's arms, draping it onto the railing of the Basilica's loggia. During Popes John Paul II and Francis' announcement, there was no image of his predecessor's arms. The new pope then emerges onto the balcony to the adulation of the crowd, while a brass band in the forecourt below plays the Pontifical Anthem. 

The new Pope then imparts the Urbi et Orbi blessing. The Pope may on this occasion choose to give the shorter Apostolic Blessing instead of the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, this happened most recently with Pope Paul VI after his election at the 1963 conclave. Beginning with Pope John Paul II, the last three popes elected including Pope Francis, have chosen to address the crowds first before imparting the Urbi et Orbi blessing. Also, at Pope Francis' first appearance, he lead the faithful first in prayers for his predecessor and asked them for prayers for himself before imparting the Urbi et Orbi blessing.

Formerly, the pope would later be crowned by the triregnum or Triple Tiara at the Papal Coronation. All popes since John Paul I have refused an elaborate coronation, choosing instead to have a simpler papal inauguration ceremony.