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Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How Long Will the Papal Conclave Last? Here's What We Know
Cardinals and bishops gather in the Vatican's Clementine Hall on Feb. 24, 2005. Credit - Eric Vandeville—Getty Images After the death of a Pope, a papal conclave—an incredibly secretive and important process— takes place in the Vatican as cardinals determine who will next lead the Catholic Church. Following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, preparations for the conclave began to take place, as cardinals from around the world made their way to Rome. On Wednesday, May 7, the first day of the conclave, 133 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to cast their vote. They failed to reach a decision, as signalled by the black smoke which emerged from the Chapel's chimney in the evening. A candidate must receive at least two-thirds of the vote in order to become the next Pope, and a successful vote will see white smoke leaving the Sistine Chapel. On the second day of a conclave, four rounds of voting will be held, and so on, until a new leader of the Catholic Church is elected. In theory, this process could last indefinitely. It's of little surprise then that conclaves have previously been known to last for years. However, recent elections have been much shorter. The last conclave to last more than a week was in 1831, when Pope Gregory XVI was elected after 51 days of voting. Read More: 10 Surprising Facts About Papal Conclaves Here's a breakdown of how the length of conclaves has changed in recent years. The death of Pope Clement VI in 1268 led to quite a crisis for the Catholic Church. 17 cardinals were part of the conclave put together to choose his successor, but the group was split between two factions known as the Guelphs and Ghibellenes. This division, as well as personal and political motivations amongst the cardinals, led to a stalemate, and the conclave ultimately lasted 1,006 days. It took the closing of the Viterbo city gates, where the conclave was held, and complete isolation from the outside world before a decision could be reached. This three-year conclave led the new Pope, Gregory X, to declare in 1274 that future conclaves must be held behind closed doors, with no contact between cardinals and the outside. Gregory X said that cardinals should be locked in isolation 'cum clave'—latin for 'with a key.' The term has since developed into 'conclave,' giving this election process its modern name. In the years that followed, conclaves were known to last for anything from a few days to a few months. Read More: Meet Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, a Top Contender to Succeed Pope Francis Thankfully, for Catholics and the rest of the world, recent conclaves haven't lasted a pain-staking three years. Out of the last five, the longest has only been three days. The most recent election of Pope Francis in March 2013, lasted two days. Cardinals needed just five rounds of voting to elect the next Pontiff; one vote on the first day and four on the second. It was the same time frame in 2005, as Pope Benedict XVI was chosen by cardinals after two days. In 1978, there were remarkably two conclaves. In October, Pope John Paul II was elected after eight rounds of voting across three days. Just months before, in August, John Paul I was elected in two days. John Paul I died of a heart attack just 33 days after the beginning of his term as Pope. His death has been shrouded in conspiracy, given the sudden nature and timing of his passing. Fifteen years prior, in June 1963, Pope Paul VI was chosen as the next Pontiff after three days of voting. Of course, there is no knowing when it comes to an exact timeframe, but if recent conclaves are anything to go by, we should know who the next head of the Catholic Church will be within a week. Contact us at letters@
Time Magazine
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
How Long Do Papal Conclaves Last? A Look at How Timings Have Changed Drastically in Recent Years
After the death of a Pope, a papal conclave—an incredibly secretive and important process— takes place in the Vatican as cardinals determine who will next lead the Catholic Church. Following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, preparations for the conclave began to take place, as cardinals from around the world made their way to Rome. On Wednesday, May 7, the first day of the conclave, 133 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to cast their vote. They failed to reach a decision, as signalled by the black smoke which emerged from the Chapel's chimney in the evening. A candidate must receive at least two-thirds of the vote in order to become the next Pope, and a successful vote will see white smoke leaving the Sistine Chapel. On the second day of a conclave, four rounds of voting will be held, and so on, until a new leader of the Catholic Church is elected. In theory, this process could last indefinitely. It's of little surprise then that conclaves have previously been known to last for years. However, recent elections have been much shorter. The last conclave to last more than a week was in 1831, when Pope Gregory XVI was elected after 51 days of voting. Here's a breakdown of how the length of conclaves has changed in recent years. The longest conclave in history—and how it came to be The death of Pope Clement VI in 1268 led to quite a crisis for the Catholic Church. 17 cardinals were part of the conclave put together to choose his successor, but the group was split between two factions known as the Guelphs and Ghibellenes. This division, as well as personal and political motivations amongst the cardinals, led to a stalemate, and the conclave ultimately lasted 1,006 days. It took the closing of the Viterbo city gates, where the conclave was held, and complete isolation from the outside world before a decision could be reached. This three-year conclave led the new Pope, Gregory X, to declare in 1274 that future conclaves must be held behind closed doors, with no contact between cardinals and the outside. Gregory X said that cardinals should be locked in isolation 'cum clave' —latin for 'with a key.' The term has since developed into 'conclave,' giving this election process its modern name. In the years that followed, conclaves were known to last for anything from a few days to a few months. Thankfully, for Catholics and the rest of the world, recent conclaves haven't lasted a pain-staking three years. Out of the last five, the longest has only been three days. The most recent election of Pope Francis in March 2013, lasted two days. Cardinals needed just five rounds of voting to elect the next Pontiff; one vote on the first day and four on the second. It was the same time frame in 2005, as Pope Benedict XVI was chosen by cardinals after two days. In 1978, there were remarkably two conclaves. In October, Pope John Paul II was elected after eight rounds of voting across three days. Just months before, in August, John Paul I was elected in two days. John Paul I died of a heart attack just 33 days after the beginning of his term as Pope. His death has been shrouded in conspiracy, given the sudden nature and timing of his passing. Fifteen years prior, in June 1963, Pope Paul VI was chosen as the next Pontiff after three days of voting. How long will this conclave take?
Herald Malaysia
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
How locking cardinals in a room became known as a conclave
Electing a Pope wasn't always the formal, ruled-based conclave we are familiar with today. Everything changed in 1271 after a papal election lasted almost three years. May 07, 2025 Cardinals gather in Rome for the conclave of 1978, which elected Karol Wojty?a ROME: Rome has not always been the seat of power for the papacy. For two notable periods of Church history, Popes lived outside of Rome and served as the successor of St. Peter away from the Eternal City. You may have heard of the Avignon Papacy – a period of 68 years in the 14th century when pontiffs resided in Avignon, France following a conflict between the papacy and the French monarch. But, perhaps a lesser-known and potentially more significant period was the brief time a small city just 90 minutes north of Rome became not only the residence of nine Popes, but also the birthplace of the conclave as we know it today. But why was this city of Viterbo even an option as a seat of papal power? Just 90 miles north of Rome Rome in the 13th century was very different to what we see today. It was filled with violence and division. Two families – the Guelphs and the Ghibellines – ruled and were battling over who had the authority to appoint bishops and abbots. One believed the secular ruler had the power, while the other defended papal authority. As a result, the city of Rome had been overwhelmed with conflict. It was ruled unsafe and Pope Alexander IV chose to transfer the papal see to Viterbo. The small city held a number of advantages: its proximity to Rome, its ties to the Guelph family, and its two-and-a-half-mile circular wall. For Christians, Viterbo was significant because it is located along the important pilgrimage route called the Via Francigena. With all these strengths, in 1257, Rome was abandoned as the residence of the Popes and Viterbo was adopted. How to elect a Pope…back in the day For 24 years – from 1257 to 1281 – the Palace of the Popes in Viterbo was the residence of the pontiffs. It was here that nine men were chosen to be head of the Catholic Church. However, until 1268, the election process was much different from today's, which is much more clearly-defined and thorough. Historians and canonists generally hold that until the 13th century, the papal role was filled like any other diocese, meaning the election of a new Pope was made by neighboring bishops, clergy, and the faithful of Rome. Others argue it was not until the 4th century after Pope Sylvester I that the lay people were included in part of the election process. Sometimes, European emperors and monarchs nominated a successor. Nevertheless, the idea of the conclave had not been formed until the death of Pope Clement IV, marking a drastic change in how pontiffs were elected. Lock them in until they decide In 1268, the Church was facing a sede vacante (a vacant see) and the election of a new Pope. At that point, 19 of the 20 cardinal electors traveled to Viterbo to take part in choosing a successor. Little did anyone know, this election would become the longest conclave in Church history. After a year without a new Pope being chosen, the citizens of Viterbo took matters into their own hands. In an attempt to pressure the cardinals to make a decision, they, together with the captain of the people, Raniero Gatti, locked the cardinals in the Palace of the Popes with a key or 'cum clave', in Latin from which the word conclave is derived. The cardinals, locked in from the outside, were also limited to bread and water. Finally, in September of 1271, after more than three years without a pontiff, Pope Gregory X was elected. Lessons learned Following the experience in Viterbo, some of the cardinals realized that the long and unofficial process of electing Popes was outdated. The recently elected pontiff, Gregory X, published an Apostolic Constitution, Ubi periculum , with concrete rules for the selection of a new Pope. This apostolic constitution remains the basis for the modern-day process the Church still uses today. Even with the publication of these new rules, the new process was not adopted immediately. It was not until Pope Boniface VIII named the Ubi periculum as the only means of electing a Pope by incorporating it into canon law. With that, Viterbo – also called the City of Popes and the location of the longest papal election in history – became the birthplace of the conclave.--Vatican News
India Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
The longest papal election in Church history lasted 1,006 days, from 1268 to 1271
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.
