The longest papal election in Church history lasted 1,006 days, from 1268 to 1271

India Today

07-05-2025

Few rituals in the world are as steeped in secrecy and tradition as the election of a pope. While modern conclaves unfold beneath Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, the roots of this process stretch back through centuries of power struggles, political intrigue, and human drama.
Cinema may have recently captured a glimpse of this in Conclave , but long before the silver screen dramatised the event, the Catholic Church had already experienced conclaves that changed history. One of the most extraordinary began in 1268, in the small Italian town of Viterbo, after the death of Pope Clement IV.
What should have been a solemn and swift vote turned into a political standoff that lasted nearly three years -- 1,006 days, from 1268 to 1271, the longest conclave in papal history. SISTINE CHAPEL 'S FIRST CONCLAVE
Over time, conclaves found a permanent home. The Sistine Chapel hosted its first in 1492 -- the same year Alexander VI, a Spaniard, was elected.
Since 1878, the chapel has been the fixed setting for this ancient process.
Cardinals now sleep nearby at the Domus Santa Marta residence, away from the world, disconnected from media, until white smoke signals the decision. Cardinal Camerlengo certifying a papal death (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Not all popes have been cardinals. Urban VI, elected in 1378, was a monk and the archbishop of Bari -- and remains the last non-cardinal to ascend to the papacy. Age, too, has varied. Pope John XII was just 18 when elected in 955. Celestine III and Celestine V were both nearly 85 when they took the mantle. EVOLUTION OF PAPAL CONCLAVE OVER CENTURIES
The papal conclave that we witness now -- veiled in mystery and seriousness -- took centuries to develop.
Popes in the early Church were elected by regional clergy and laity, frequently by acclamation instead of an official vote. This resulted in controversy and opposing claimants, or antipopes.
As the struggle for power increased, the laity's role diminished. In 1059, Pope Nicholas II restricted voting to cardinals, and by 1179, all cardinals had an equal voice.
But still, elections dragged on, particularly in the 13th century, because of politics and travel delays.
The limit of 70 cardinals established in 1587 was later increased to provide broader worldwide representation.
The Church formalised the process over time.
By 1917, canon law mandated that cardinals be priests, and since 1962, they have mostly been bishops.
In 1970, Pope Paul VI implemented another major reform: cardinals older than 80 could no longer vote -- simplifying the process while keeping centuries of tradition. LOCKED DOORS, NO ROOF, AND A POPE CHOSEN AT LAST
The deadlock was fuelled by a fierce rivalry between two dominant factions of the time: the Guelphs, who supported the authority of the pope, and the Ghibellines, who aligned with the Holy Roman Emperor.
As weeks turned into years, the people of Viterbo grew fed up. The cardinals, holed up in the Episcopal Palace, seemed unwilling to compromise.
In a rare act of civic defiance, the townspeople locked them in -- and even removed the palace roof to pressure them into action.
From this chaos came the term conclave , derived from the Latin cum clave , meaning 'with a key' -- referring to the cardinals being locked in until they reached a decision. The 1492 papal conclave was the first to be held in the Sistine Chapel. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Finally, in September 1271, a committee of six cardinals broke the impasse. Their surprise choice was Teobaldo Visconti, an Italian cleric on a diplomatic mission in the Holy Land. He returned home to become Pope Gregory X.
The experience forced Gregory to introduce reforms. In 1274, he decreed that if the cardinals couldn't agree on a pope within three days, their meals would be reduced to one a day.
After eight days, they'd get only bread, water, and wine -- a stern reminder that indecision had consequences.
The history of papal elections also reflects how wide the Church's reach has become. While the majority of popes have historically been Italian, the 20th and 21st centuries have seen more diversity.
The conclave remains a moment when history meets mystery -- a mix of prayer, politics, and pressure. It is, at heart, a very human affair, shaped by conflict, compromise, and, occasionally, roofs being torn off.