The process of picking a new Pope is perhaps the singular most captivating ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. This is accompanied by ancient practices, detailed consideration of religious doctrine, and the appointment of a cleric to oversee more than 1.3 billion Catholics situated around the world. For someone inexperienced, it may seem strange, however, the subsequent procedure of selection of the pope is something that has been so well refined over centuries, yet it is deeply entrenched in history, and religious law is one of the most complex ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church.
What Starts a Papal Election?
A papal election is triggered by the passing or resignation of the sitting pope. Traditionally, death was the only option, but history recently suggests that resignation is also possible, most notably the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. This was the first resignation in almost 600 years. After the death of a pope, there is a period known as sede vacante, which is a Latin term meaning ‘the see being vacant’.
The Primary Function of the College of Cardinals
The single most important group of people in the election of a pope, and who will remain the most important in the future, is the College of Cardinals, all of whom are under the age of 80. These cardinals, popularly known as electors, not only represent the most senior and powerful cardinals of the Church, but the entire world, with representatives from all continents. Church regulations specify that the electoral body known as the cardinal electors cannot exceed 120 at any given time.
The cardinals are called to Rome to take part in preliminary meetings called general congregations. These meetings enable each participant to prepare for the voting process, and they get to weigh in on the state of the Church as well as what they envision the future leader of the Church to be like. In this period, the cardinals are residents of Vatican City and are housed in Domus Sanctae Marthae, a Vatican guest house next to St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Conclave A Sealed Process
The election itself takes place at The Conclave. It is known as Conclave as it is derived from Latin cum clave meaning “with a key”. This title was given because of the custom of locking the doors of the Sistine Chapel to ensure that everything about the election is kept confidential. While in conclave, no cardinal is allowed to communicate with the outside world. They are placed into a secluded area where all recording devices indispensable are removed, and this area is surveyed for recording devices by masons.
Voting commences with an oath that the participants take. This is the oath of silence. Anyone breaking this oath faces the punishment of excommunication.
Voting Procedures
Voting is a traditional activity. Cardinlas will participate in at most four votes during the day; two in the morning and two in the afternoon. A new pope is elected on a two-thirds majority basis. For example, if there are one hundred and twenty cardinal electors, eighty votes need to be cast for a specific individual in order for that individual to be voted affirmative to be elected.
Votes are placed in envelopes that are handwritten on paper. After each voting session, the votes are tallied. After counting, the ballots are burned in a special oven situated in the Sistine Chapel. Certain chemicals are added to sustain black or white fumes.
Black smoke (fumata nera) indicates that a pope has yet to be chosen.
White smoke (fumata bianca) shows that a new pope has been chosen.
Both candidates use smoke. Smoke would be a strong symbolic custom and serves as a primary indication of the election flag’s bayoneting sign.
Who may be elected?
It’s rather astonishing that any baptized male catholic is, in theory, able to be elected as a pope. In this case, however, over the last years we repeatedly chose a cardinal as a pope.
Had he not been a bishop, he would first have been obligated to be consecrated as the bishop of Rome before becoming pope.
It might be that a papal candidate is simply a servant to the Church who is an expert leader, reformer, or even a healer. Locality, age, and politics, perhaps even the person’s character, portentously makes them sway the vote of fellow clergy peers.
Framing The Problem
Papal candidates do not undergo even the most basic scrutiny and so freely provide votes that fit selected primaries. Moreover, two fundamental queries must be asked of that particular person.
First question: ‘Do you want to accept your canonical election as the Supreme Pontiff?”
Second question: “What shall I call you?”
Answers to these inquiries see them donned in white papal regalia, the cardinals.
Prior to these elections, “I proclaim to the illustrious new Pope (name), Supreme Pontiff,” would be exed, and at that point, they pledge their undivided allegiance to him.
Ceremonial Phrasing
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Tradition vs. Transparency
Even though the Vatican keeps the practices conducted during the conclave a closely guarded secret, it is well known that this process has changed a lot over the years. Some changes were made in attempts to “modernize” or “update” certain aspects of the process after Vatican II. Regardless, the Church has not accepted calls for greater transparency, sustaining that the workings of the Holy Spirit’s will cannot be interfered with.
A Global Event
These days, it seems that nearly everybody has access to multiple forms of media, and the election of a new pope is followed by hundreds of millions of people. Numerous outlets broadcast live streams from the Vatican, making it possible for everyone to access the event. It turns into not only a religious phenomenon, but rather, a worldwide cultural phenomenon. There is ample speculation about the new pope’s name, nationality, and possible plans.
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Final Thoughts
The election of a new pope is carried out in a way that strikingly integrates the ancient traditions and established modern practices of organizing and logistics. The duties that come with the highest Catholic church office bring into focus the Catholic Universal Church.
Even if it goes unseen, the papal conclave is one of the most fascinating spectacles followed globally in the religious domain.
In the decline and decay of the contemporary world, the ritualistic aspects of the papal election serve as a window into the more affectionate and simplistic times. Most importantly, the lasting movement of faith communities persists, and Edgar keeps the sign already visible for everyone. Every practitioner or scholar prepares to meet a newly elected pope and to present him with multifarious hopes, deep reforms, and different perspectives, so it is reasonable to expect that change – or at least an attempt to address the Church’s prevailing narrative – will come.
