Awaiting a Pope (part 1)

Wednesday begins the conclave, one of the most interesting mechanisms of the Church. Conclave comes from the Latin “cum clave” meanings “with the key,” as the cardinals are locked in the Sistine Chapel, no one going in or out while they deliberate over and pray for a new pope.

The papal conclave is the oldest method of electing a head of state still in use in the present day. While it has certainly changed over time, the idea of the conclave is actually rooted in scripture, when the apostles got together and selected a new apostle, Matthias, to replace Judas. In early Christianity, bishops were often chosen by election of the clergy of that diocese.

In 1059, the College of Cardinals was designated as the electing body of the Bishop of Rome. In 1274 Pope Gregory X established the present system of the papal conclave in his papal bull Ubi periculum. It instructed that the cardinals be isolated in order to stem outside influences and to bring about speedier decisions (it had taken over three years for Gregory X to be elected). Subsequent popes didn’t enforce this rule, however, until Pope Boniface VIII made it canon law in 1298.

The conclave, compared to a normal election, shut off the cardinals from the outside world. This is intended to keep their minds on the spiritual task at hand and not the administrative or social obligations they otherwise have. The cardinals live together, dine together, and can only leave the conclave on account of illness.

The original provisions by Pope Gregory X included that cardinals were forbidden to engage in politics, bribery, or deal-making (unlikely to be enforced) and that if a pope is not been elected after three days, the cardinals are permitted only one dish at their meals; after eight days only bread, wine and water (I’m pretty sure this isn’t in the rules now, but if it is, it explains why the past few elections have been so swift).

In 1587 Pope Sixtus set the number of cardinals at 70 to resemble the 70 elders who assisted Moses. In the late 1950s, Pope John XXIII began expanding the college to broaden representation, though his successor, Pope Paul VI limited voting to those under the age of 80 and limited the voting college to 120, though recently that has been exceeded. At times, the college has been as small at 7; this current college will be the biggest at 135.

In 1621 Pope Gregory XV established the requirement of a 2/3 majority for a pope to be elected. It had roughly been practiced in 1179 (Third Lateran Counsil), but there was debate whether it should be 2/3 or 2/3+1 (providing for a cardinal voting for himself).

Up until 1899, it was usual to include a few lay members, usually nobility or monks, in the college. On its face it’s not a terrible idea to include some viewpoints different from the bishops, though I suspect the nobility added a certain political persuasion. In the 1917 revision of the Code of Canon Law, it explicitly said that cardinals must be priests. Since 1962, all the cardinals have been not only priests but bishops.

At the conclave, the cardinals begin the day with Mass at St. Peter’s. In the afternoon they gather in the Pauline Chapel and process across the hall to the Sistine Chapel chanting the Litany of the Saints.

The cardinals hear two sermons at the beginning of the conclave: one during the morning Mass and one once they have moved into the Sistine Chapel. The sermons are to emphasize the current state of the Church and the suggested qualities of the next pope.

The Sistine Chapel has been the site of the conclave since 1492. Once inside,  the cardinals take an oath of secrecy and to disregard any instructions given by secular leaders. Each cardinal takes the oath by seniority with his hand on the Gospels. After that, the master of liturgical celebrations declares “Extra omnes! (Out, all of you)” and any individuals not cardinal electors leave the chapel. The chapel doors are shut. Any eavesdroppers are punished by excommunication latae sententiae (self-imposed).

Only 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 are allowed inside. Even outside the chapel, the conclave is kept to a small number: priests to hear confessions, two doctors, nurses for an ill cardinal who needs one and has been approved, and a small staff for housekeeping and the preparing and serving of meals.

On the first day, there can be one vote (it is optional). On successive days, there are up to four ballots a day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. By lot, scrutineers are selected (this rotates); they will count ballots. The cardinals take their ballots with the name of their selection up the scrutineers at the altar and take an oath that this is their vote.

After the votes are tallied, the ballots are burned. Since 1914, if no pope has been elected, then the smoke is black, and if a pope has been elected, the smoke is white. The smoke emerges from a temporary chimney that is installed in the Sistine Chapel. Since 1963, chemicals are added to the fire to differentiate the color of smoke better. Since 2005, the ringing of the bells of St. Peter’s have been added when a pope is elected.

Every seven ballots, if there is no elected pope, there is a pause in the procedures for prayer and discussion. However, like the last few conclaves, I suspect this conclave will act swiftly and we will have a pope within 4-5 ballots.

The world waits to see.