The Papal Conclave: Electing a New Leader for the Catholic Church

On May 7th, a significant event in the Catholic Church will unfold: the papal conclave. This gathering of cardinals from around the globe will take place within the historic walls of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Their mission is to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21st. The conclave is shrouded in secrecy, rivaling the clandestine operations of intelligence agencies. Even the meals of the cardinals are monitored, ensuring no outside influence permeates the process.

Within this locked-door environment, the cardinals will engage in a series of votes, ultimately selecting one among themselves to become the new pontiff. This individual will then lead the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church for the coming years, charting the course for its future. A critical decision awaits the new pope: whether to continue the reforms initiated by Pope Francis or to steer the Church towards a more traditional path.

The cardinals and all church staff involved are bound by a strict oath of secrecy, swearing to keep all matters pertaining to the conclave confidential. This includes their sequestration within the Sistine Chapel during the voting process. Communication with the outside world is strictly prohibited. The cardinals are forbidden from using the internet and are barred from possessing smartphones, computers, radios, televisions, or any other electronic devices that could potentially compromise the integrity of the election.

The term "conclave" itself originates from the Latin phrase "cum clave," meaning "with a key," highlighting the locked-door nature of the proceedings.

The Sistine Chapel, completed in 1481, has served as the venue for papal conclaves since 1878. Its interior is a masterpiece of Renaissance art, renowned for Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling paintings and the frescoes created by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Rosselli, and other prominent artists. Every year, over 5 million tourists visit the chapel, drawn by its artistic and historical significance.

During the conclave, the cardinals are confined to the chapel for the duration of the voting process. They reside at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, a guesthouse located near St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Pope Francis himself chose to reside there, and the guesthouse provides convenient access to the Sistine Chapel.

According to Church law, the cardinals must convene within 15 to 20 days following the death of a pope to elect a successor. To ensure the integrity of the papal conclave, the Sistine Chapel is closed to the public, and strict security measures are implemented to prevent any external interference.

These precautions include:

• A thorough electronic sweep of the chapel and surrounding rooms to detect any hidden cameras, surveillance devices, or listening devices.
• Each cardinal and support staff member swears an oath on the Bible, under penalty of excommunication, to maintain absolute secrecy regarding all deliberations.
• The cardinals are completely isolated during the conclave, with no communication permitted with the outside world.
• A temporary wooden platform is erected to protect the delicate marble floor of the chapel.
• Two temporary stoves are installed within the chapel to burn the ballots after each round of voting.
• Electronic signal jamming devices are deployed on the chapel walls to prevent any unauthorized communication.
• All Wi-Fi access within the Vatican is disabled.
• The Vatican’s Swiss Guards are stationed outside the chapel to prevent any unauthorized entry.

Once a cardinal enters the conclave, they cannot leave except in cases of illness or other extreme circumstances.

The cardinals also share meals together during the conclave, but even the menu is carefully controlled. Foods that could potentially conceal messages, such as pies or stuffed chicken, are prohibited.

The Catholic Church currently has 252 cardinals worldwide. They are the highest-ranking officials of the Church and collectively form the College of Cardinals.

However, only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in a conclave, a rule established by Pope Paul VI in 1970 known as "Ingravescentem Aetatem." Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu of Italy, who was convicted of financial crimes, has stated that he will not participate in the voting. This brings the total number of eligible cardinals to 135.

If a cardinal turns 80 during the conclave, they are still allowed to vote.

Unfortunately, two cardinals will be unable to attend the conclave due to health issues:

• Antonio Cañizares Llovera, the archbishop of Valencia, Spain.
• John Njue, the archbishop emeritus of Nairobi, Kenya.

This reduces the total number of eligible cardinals to 133.

Although Church Canon Law stipulates that any baptized, unmarried man is technically eligible to be elected pope, in practice, only cardinals are chosen. Historically, there have been only six instances where a non-cardinal was elected pope, the last being Urban VI in 1378.

On the first day of the conclave, the cardinals will celebrate Mass in the morning before assembling in the Sistine Chapel at 4:30 p.m. They are permitted to hold one ballot on the first day.

Inside the Sistine Chapel, twelve long wooden tables are arranged. The cardinals enter the chapel and swear an oath on the Bible to uphold the secrecy of the deliberations.

Non-voting personnel are then instructed to leave the chapel, and the doors are secured.

Each day, nine cardinals are chosen by lot to perform specific roles during the voting process. These roles include scrutineers (who count the ballots), tellers (who verify the count), and reviewers (who ensure the accuracy of the process).

Here’s how the voting process unfolds:

1. The first ballot, the only one held on the first day, takes place. At their designated tables, the cardinals use pens to write the name of their chosen candidate on rectangular sheets of paper pre-printed with the Latin phrase "Elijo como Supremo Pontífice" ("I elect as Supreme Pontiff"). They are instructed to either print or disguise their handwriting to maintain anonymity.
2. The cardinals write the name of their candidate below the inscription. They then fold the paper and carry it to the altar, which holds a large urn or chalice with a metal plate on top.
3. The cardinal places the folded ballot on the plate, then tilts the plate to allow the ballot to slide into the urn. After depositing their ballot, they return to their tables.
4. The three scrutineers then count and review the ballots, ensuring that the number of ballots matches the number of voting cardinals.
5. The names on the ballots are read aloud and recorded. The reviewers then check the ballots and the recordings made by the scrutineers to ensure accuracy. All of this work is conducted in full view of all the cardinals present.
6. The used ballots are then pierced with a threaded needle. Once the count is completed, the thread is knotted, and the ballots are burned in a special stove installed in the chapel.
7. Chemicals are added to the fire to produce colored smoke, which serves as a signal to the outside world. Black smoke indicates that no decision has been reached, while white smoke announces the election of a new pope.

To be elected pope, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes – in this case, 89 out of 133 votes.

If a pope isn’t elected on the first day, voting continues on subsequent days, with two ballots held in the morning and two more in the afternoon. If a decision is not reached after three days of voting, the process is suspended for a day of prayer and reflection.

After the day of prayer, seven more ballots are conducted. If a decision is still not reached, the voting is suspended for another day of prayer. This cycle of seven ballots followed by a day of suspension is repeated twice more.

If a two-thirds majority still eludes the cardinals, a runoff election is held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the previous rounds. These two candidates are not eligible to vote in the runoff election.

However, in the last twelve papal conclaves since 1846, popes have typically been chosen within three to five days.

Once a candidate has received the necessary two-thirds majority, the dean of the College of Cardinals formally asks the newly elected pope if he accepts the election. If the elected cardinal accepts, he then chooses his papal name, which often reflects his heritage, values, and historical inspirations.

After the pope accepts his new position, the ballots are burned, and this time, white smoke billows from the chapel chimney to signal the momentous decision to the world.

The newly elected pope then enters a small chamber within the chapel known as the "Room of Tears." This room is named for the emotional reactions that popes often experience as they contemplate the weight of their new responsibilities. The Room of Tears contains papal vestments in three different sizes, allowing the new pope to select the vestment that fits him best.

The new pope dons the vestments, and the cardinals pay homage to him. Afterward, the pope is escorted to the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where a senior cardinal announces "Habemus Papam," the Latin phrase meaning "We have a pope," to the waiting crowd.

The new pope then addresses the crowd and gives his first blessing, beginning his pontificate.