The papal conclave that begins today will be the most geographically diverse in the church’s two-thousand-year history, with clerics from seventy countries participating. They have been meeting at the Vatican nearly every day since April 22, the day after Pope Francis’s death, to discuss matters facing the global church.
This afternoon, one of the most famous and yet secretive traditions in history will officially begin as the cardinals meet to elect the church’s 267th pope. Here’s what you need to know and why it matters to us all.
What is a “conclave”?
In 1268, cardinals gathered to elect a new pope. They became deadlocked and continued meeting for almost three years. Local magistrates and residents became so frustrated that they locked the cardinals into a room until a decision was reached.
This is where the term conclave originates, meaning “with a key” in Latin.
The cardinals were fed only bread and water passed through a window. When this did not expedite the process, the magistrate removed the roof of the room to “let the Holy Spirit in.” This led to the election of Pope Gregory X, who laid the foundation for the conclave process still used today.
The first conclave to be held in the Sistine Chapel was in 1492. However, the chapel did not become the sole location for papal elections until 1878. Interestingly, the chapel, which was completed in 1481, was purportedly designed to match the dimensions of Solomon’s Temple.
The tradition of burning the ballots dates back to at least the year 1417. However, the iconic black and white smoke—the former when no pope is elected and the latter when a new pope is chosen—was not introduced until 1914. The appropriate smoke is produced by burning the ballots with a mix of chemicals. Bells also chime once a new pope has been elected, a practice that began in 2005.
Who is eligible?
Catholics believe that Peter was the first pope and that his remains are buried beneath the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. I was privileged some years ago to tour the catacombs and stand within twenty feet or so of the grave; archaeological evidence supports the claim that it is his.
Over the centuries since, popes have included laymen and deacons, along with many bishops. In fact, any unmarried, male, baptized Catholic is canonically eligible.
However, the last non-cardinal to be elected pope was Pope Urban VI in 1378. Since his time, only cardinals have been elevated to the papacy.
How does the process work?
Only cardinals under the age of eighty are eligible to vote; they are known as cardinal electors. At 4:30 this afternoon, Vatican time, the 133 electors will gather and process to the Sistine Chapel. They will take an oath of absolute secrecy, then the doors will be sealed.
They vote through secret ballots reading Eligo in summum pontificem, “I elect as supreme pontiff,” followed by a name. The cardinals then approach the three scrutineers (cardinals chosen by a random drawing from the electors) in front of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment fresco. They fold their ballots twice and drop them in an urn. The scrutineers tally them and announce the results to all the cardinals. The ballots are then burned.
One round of voting will occur today. If a candidate does not receive two-thirds of the votes, voting will continue up to four times a day, twice in the morning and twice in the evening, until a candidate receives the necessary votes. (The 2005 and 2013 conclaves each lasted two days.) The public will be notified of each vote through the black and white smoke signals.
Once the conclave elects a pope, the dean of the College of Cardinals will ask him if he accepts the title. If he does, he will then select his papal name, a practice that began in AD 533 when a priest named Mercurius was elected pope. Because he was named after a pagan Roman god, he selected a new name after a previous pope. Since then, most popes have chosen a new name, usually connected to a previous pope or figure in church history they wish to emulate.
The new pope will then be led to the “Room of Tears” in the Sistine Chapel (named for the overwhelming emotion past pontiffs have experienced). There, he will dress in white robes and receive a new pectoral cross and white zucchetto (head cap). The cardinals will greet the new pope and pledge their obedience to him.
He will then walk out to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The senior-most cardinal deacon will announce to the crowd assembled below, Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habermus Papam (“I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope”) and introduce the church’s new leader by the title he has selected. The new pope will then deliver a blessing to the crowd.
Why is the conclave relevant to us all?
For those of us of who are not Catholics, all of this may be interesting but seem less than relevant. However, as the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, the pope is the most influential Christian leader in the world, with cultural significance far outside the church. Pope St. John Paul II, for example, helped end the Cold War and advance human rights around the globe.
However, we have an even more fundamental reason to pray for the conclave as it begins.
Jude wrote his canonical letter “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (v. 3). He did so to counter those who “pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4).
You and I face such times today. Churches and entire denominations are endorsing abortion, same-sex marriage, LGBTQ ideology, and euthanasia. Many dismiss biblical authority as outdated and even dangerous. While I disagree with the Roman Catholic Church on many topics, I am deeply grateful for its courageous commitment to the sanctity of life and marriage and its steadfast ministry to the impoverished and others in need.
I have spoken on several panels over the years alongside clergy from various denominations. Almost without fail, it was the Catholic priest more than anyone else who agreed with my position on biblical truth, Jesus’ bodily resurrection, the necessity of faith in Christ, and the relevance of biblical morality today. As a medical ethicist, I can testify that Catholic healthcare systems are some of the finest in our country and among the most aligned with biblical morality.
So, I am praying for the next pope to be a courageous and stalwart defender of biblical truth in the face of encroaching secularism and a voice for Christian unity and global mission. And I am recommitting myself to “contend for the faith” in my own sphere of influence by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Will you join me today?
Quote for the day:
“The most beautiful and stirring adventure that can happen to you is the personal meeting with Jesus, who is the only one who gives real meaning to our lives.” —Pope St. John Paul II
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