Grace Thompson
The process of electing a new pope, also known as the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the Catholic Church, is a complex and intricate one. The College of Cardinals, consisting of cardinals from all over the world, plays a crucial role in this process. When a pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals convenes in Vatican City to elect a successor through a series of meetings and votes. The history of this process is long and contentious, with various decrees and reforms shaping the way popes are chosen today. The secrecy and solemnity surrounding the election of a new pope contribute to the intrigue and significance of this ancient tradition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can be elected? | Any baptised Catholic male, regardless of whether they are a member of the priesthood. |
| Requirements | Must be ordained as a bishop upon accepting the election. |
| Who votes? | Cardinals under the age of 80, known as cardinal electors. |
| Number of voters | About 120 electors. |
| Voting process | No electronic voting. Paper ballots are cast and checked, then burned. |
| Voting duration | Four rounds of balloting are taken every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote. |
| Voting location | Sistine Chapel. |
| Voting secrecy | Yes, the cardinals take an oath of absolute secrecy before sealing the doors. |
| Voting duration | If a pope is not chosen after three days of voting, the cardinals suspend voting for up to one day for prayer and discussion. |
| Number of ballots | Ballots are cast once during the first day of the conclave, and then twice a day (morning and evening) until a new pope is elected. |
| Announcement of results | The final ballots are burned with chemicals, producing white smoke to signal the election of a new pope. |
| Announcement location | The senior cardinal deacon announces from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope"). |
| Pope's first act | The new pope steps onto the balcony and gives his first blessing, "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World"). |
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What You'll Learn
Who can be elected pope?
Any baptised Catholic male can be elected pope, regardless of whether they are a priest or not, according to canon law. However, they must be ordained as a bishop upon accepting the position. The pope is the bishop of Rome, though he need not be of Italian background.
The College of Cardinals has, for the last 600-plus years, picked one of their own. Cardinals are bishops and Vatican officials from all over the world, personally chosen by the pope and identifiable by their red vestments. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in a conclave.
In the past, only cardinal priests or cardinal deacons could be elected pope, specifically excluding those that were already bishops. However, the Church deviated from this rule as early as 817 and fully ignored it from 882 with the election of Pope Marinus I, the bishop of Caere.
In 1559, Paul IV issued the papal bull Cum ex apostolatus officio, a codification of the ancient Catholic law that only Catholics can be elected pope, excluding non-Catholics and former Catholics who have become public and manifest heretics. As the Catholic Church holds that women cannot be ordained, women are not eligible for the papacy.
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Who elects the pope?
The pope is elected by the College of Cardinals, which consists of about 120 cardinals from all over the world. Cardinals are bishops and Vatican officials, personally chosen by the pope and identifiable by their red vestments.
The College of Cardinals elects a new pope when there is a vacancy in the papacy, usually following the death or resignation of the previous pope. The cardinals hold a series of meetings at the Vatican called general congregations, where they discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church. They also prepare for the upcoming papal election, known as a conclave.
The conclave is a gathering of cardinals for the purpose of selecting a new pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in a conclave and are known as cardinal electors. The cardinal electors process to the Sistine Chapel and take an oath of absolute secrecy before sealing the doors. They then vote by secret ballot, following a detailed procedure for casting their votes.
The ballots are counted, and if no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, the ballots are burned, producing black smoke to signal that no decision has been made. This process is repeated until a candidate receives the necessary two-thirds vote. Once a new pope is elected, the ballots are burned with chemicals, producing white smoke to signal the election of a new pope.
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How is the pope elected?
The pope, also known as the Bishop of Rome, is the head of the Catholic Church and the Vatican City State. When a pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals, which consists of about 120 cardinals from all over the world, convenes to elect a new pope. Cardinals are bishops personally chosen by the pope and are identifiable by their red vestments.
The process for the election of a pope is set out in the Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominis Gregis", originally promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1996. The cardinals hold a series of meetings at the Vatican called general congregations, where they discuss the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church. They also prepare for the upcoming papal election, called a conclave. The term "conclave" comes from a Latin word for a "room that can be locked up". The conclave takes place in the strictest isolation to avoid any external influences or interference.
During the conclave, the cardinals follow a detailed procedure for casting secret ballots. Ballots are cast once during the first day of the conclave and then twice a day (at a morning and evening session) until a new pope is elected. Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in a conclave. They take an oath of absolute secrecy before sealing the doors and processing one by one to cast their ballots. Three scrutineers examine each ballot, with the last scrutineer calling out the name on the ballot so that all the cardinals can record the tally. After the names have been read out, the votes are counted to see if someone has obtained a two-thirds majority, which is needed for election. If no candidate receives two-thirds of the vote after three days of voting, the cardinals suspend voting for up to one day to allow for prayer, informal discussion, and a brief spiritual exhortation.
Once a new pope has been elected, he is asked if he accepts his "canonical election as Supreme Pontiff". He then chooses a papal name and is dressed in papal vestments. The ballots of the final round are burned with chemicals, producing white smoke to signal to the world the election of a new pope. The senior cardinal deacon announces from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope"), before the new pope imparts his blessing on the city of Rome and the world.
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What happens after the pope is elected?
Once a pope is elected, he is asked if he accepts his "canonical election as Supreme Pontiff". If he accepts, he then chooses a papal name and is dressed in papal vestments. The new pope is led to the "Room of Tears" in the Sistine Chapel, where he dresses in white robes and receives a new pectoral cross and a white zucchetto, or head cap. The cardinals greet the new pope and pledge their obedience to him.
The senior cardinal deacon announces from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; Habemus Papam" ("I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope"). Moments later, the new pope delivers his blessing to the crowd. A papal inauguration takes place a few days later.
The ballots of the final round are burned with chemicals, producing white smoke to signal to the world the election of a new pope.
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What is the history of papal elections?
The history of papal elections is a long and complex one, dating back almost two millennia. The procedures for electing a pope have evolved over the centuries, with the College of Cardinals, established in 1059, playing an increasingly significant role.
In the early days of the Catholic Church, the bishops of Rome were elected by acclamation of the local clergy and people. This changed in 1059 when the College of Cardinals was created, giving rise to what we now know as papal conclaves. The Third Council of the Lateran in 1179 granted equal rights to the entire College of Cardinals when electing a new pope, though the number of cardinals remained small, with as few as seven under Popes Alexander IV and John XXI in the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods.
The location of papal elections has also varied throughout history. While most have taken place in Rome, there have been 28 papal elections held outside the city, including in Terracina, Cluny, Verona, Avignon, and Venice. The election of Gelasius II in the 11th century was the first to occur far away from Rome, as he was elected by four cardinal-bishops in France.
The eligibility requirements for becoming pope have also evolved. Initially, only cardinal priests or cardinal deacons could be elected, but this rule was often ignored, and in 1179, these restrictions were rescinded. In 1378, Pope Urban VI became the last pope elected from outside the College of Cardinals. Since then, it has been customary for the cardinals to select one of their own.
The process of papal elections has been refined over time to resolve prolonged deadlocks and disputes. In 1274, Gregory X introduced stringent rules, requiring cardinals to be secluded in a closed area during the election. The requirement for a two-thirds majority of cardinal electors to elect a pope was established in 1621 by Gregory XV, further shaping the electoral process.
Today, the College of Cardinals continues to play a central role in electing a new pope, gathering in Vatican City to choose a successor. The process is part spiritual and part pragmatic, with cardinals discussing the needs and challenges facing the Catholic Church before casting their votes. While the specifics have evolved, the election of a pope remains a significant event in the life of the Catholic Church and its followers worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Any baptised Catholic male can be elected pope, regardless of whether they are a priest or not. However, they must be ordained as a bishop upon accepting the position.
The College of Cardinals, which consists of about 120 cardinals from all over the world, chosen personally by the pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote.
The cardinals meet in the Sistine Chapel and take an oath of absolute secrecy before sealing the doors. They vote by secret ballot, casting their vote in a large chalice. Four rounds of balloting are taken every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote. If a pope is not chosen after three days of voting, the cardinals suspend voting for a day to pray and discuss.
The final ballots are burned with chemicals to produce white smoke, signalling publicly the election of a new pope. The senior cardinal deacon announces "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope!") from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.
The term comes from the Latin word for a "room that can be locked up", referring to the strict isolation in which the cardinals meet to avoid external influences.
