Latest news with #MilesPattenden
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
From Chicago to Châteauneuf-du-Pape: What does a pope's hometown reveal?
From Polish pilgrimage trails to French vineyards, the places popes come from often gain new meaning. With the announcement of the first American pope, could Chicago be next? When plumes of white smoke billowed across Rome's skyline last week, signifying the election of a new pope, the entire world looked towards Vatican City. But the story of the Catholic Church's new leader began far from St Peter's Square. In a historic first, the papacy now belongs to an American. Pope Leo XIV – born 4,800 miles away in South Side Chicago – took to the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on 8 May to address a frenzied crowd of more than 40,000 people. "The pilgrims in the square went wild," said Dr Miles Pattenden, an Oxford University lecturer and expert on the Catholic Church. "There was a lot of excitement but also gasps of surprise because a lot of people weren't expecting this name. The idea of an American pope has seemed pretty remote for most of the last half of the century. So, there was a sense of shock." Pope Leo's first words to onlookers were not in English, however. He chose instead to speak in a mix of Italian and Spanish – the latter nodding to his 20+ year career in Peru – suggesting his identity spans more than one nation. It begs the question: how does a pope's hometown shape his leadership – and how are those hometowns changed in return? "There can't not be [a connection between pope and place]," said Nick Spencer, a senior fellow at Theos Think Tank. "However Catholic-with-a-small-'c' the church is, popes are from certain places and formed by certain experiences." That was most obviously the case with Wadowice-born Pope John Paul II, says Spencer. "It's inconceivable to think of his papacy without recognising his Polish upbringing and his life under two different totalitarian dictatorships in Poland." A small town south of Krakow, Wadowice was once a quiet, multicultural Galician backwater. But since the elevation of its most famous son – the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, who served from 1978-2005 – it has transformed into a hub of Catholic pilgrimage. "In the late '70s, Poland was already a pretty Catholic place, but the fact they had a Polish pope absolutely ignited it," Spencer said, explaining the impact of the papacy on Pope John II's hometown. Today, visitors flock to the modest family home where he was born (which has been turned into a museum), as well as the parish church where he served as an altar boy and the square where he once played as a child. Between 1996 and 2019, the number of international tourists to the museum more than doubled, according to Studies of the Industrial Geography Commission of the Polish Geographical Society, with a notable peak in 2005, the year of John Paul II's death. And in 2018, the museum celebrated its millionth visitor. This speaks to the pull of a place, says Pattenden. "Pilgrimage is significant and important for Catholics. Partly because they believe in the enchantment of physical objects, including, for instance, the bodies and the remains of saints, and the items that the saints have touched. That's why you would go back to the birthplace of a saint because you can get grace from your proximity to those things." Yet not all papal hometowns are drawn into the fold. Despite serving as Archbishop of Buenos Aires for more than a decade, Pope Francis, who died this April, travelled across numerous continents, visiting 68 countries during his 12-year papacy – but never returned to Argentina. Whether a gesture of neutrality amid the country's fraught politics or a quiet declaration of global focus, his absence was noteworthy. In contrast to the pilgrimage energy that surrounds places like Wadowice, Francis's hometown remains, for now, a site of origin rather than worship. Still, his Argentine roots shaped the way he was perceived. Francis became known as the "people's pope", something that came from his simple lifestyle, his work in the slums of Buenos Aires and his ease with ordinary people. His background helped reinforce a public image of humility, accessibility and concern for the working class. John Paul II's Polish birthplace also had a big impact on his world view. He grew up and ministered under two oppressive regimes: first Nazi occupation, then Soviet-backed Communist rule. His papacy was defined by a commitment to human rights, religious freedom and moral resistance and he became a powerful voice against totalitarianism. During a landmark visit to Poland in 1979, his call to "be not afraid" resonated deeply with his countrymen, helping to inspire the Solidarity movement that would ultimately contribute to the collapse of Communist rule. While Wadowice turned piety into pilgrimage, other papal places bear more unusual legacies. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a village nestled in the vineyards of southern France, traces of the medieval papacy live on in the local wine. In the early 14th Century, the papacy temporarily relocated from Rome to Avignon in southern France, marking a significant shift in the Church's history. From 1309 to 1377, seven successive French popes resided in the city, escaping political instability in Rome and drawn by the influence of the French crown. Often referred to as the "Avignon Papacy", this period saw the papal court flourish in grandeur, with its legacy still visible in its Palais des Papes, a Gothic fortress that once housed the spiritual heart of Catholicism. However, it also sparked controversy, with critics accusing it of corruption and excessive French sway. One pope, John XXII (from Cahors in southern France), commissioned a new summer residence in a nearby village – today known as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, or "The Pope's New Castle". His castle served as a fortified retreat and vineyard estate, taking advantage of the region's elevated position and favourable grape-growing conditions. The wine produced here still bears the papal crest of crossed keys of St Peter and a tiara, and tourists can join tours that blend this medieval papal history with wine tastings trips to centuries-old vineyards. With the recent ascent of Leo XIV, attention has turned to his Chicago roots. In true US fashion, even his sporting allegiances made headlines, sparking debate over whether he supported the Cubs or the White Sox (it's the White Sox, his brother confirmed). But experts say his path may diverge from traditional expectations. More like this:• The country that's famous for tolerance• The great conclave secret: What do would-be popes eat?• Testaccio: The foodie neighbourhood where Romans go to eat "He is American but he [was] based in Latin America for most of [his life]," said Pattenden. "And he quite notably didn't speak English when he did his initial greeting. That's all a sign to me that he's distancing himself from his Americanness." Spencer added: "In addition to being an American pope, Leo's a Peruvian pope in a very profound way so that internationalism, one would imagine, is quite deep in the bone with him and it will be interesting to see if that has an effect." Whether Chicago will embrace this moment remains to be seen. Its urban parishes and immigrant congregations may well lean into a newfound spiritual spotlight. Pilgrims may one day walk the streets of South Side as they now do in Wadowice. Or perhaps, like Francis's Buenos Aires, it will remain a quiet point of origin that's respected but not venerated. What is clear is that the connection between papacy and place can linger long after the white smoke clears. It becomes a lens through which a pope's legacy is interpreted and reimagined. From wine labels in southern France to school trips in Poland, these places are transformed by proximity to power, by the long shadow of the papal office and by the faithful who come looking for something more than just a birthplace. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Globe and Mail
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
An American Pope? Has hell frozen over?
Miles Pattenden is a historian of the Catholic Church and teaches at Oxford University. 'We have a pope!' The Cardinal Protodeacon's announcement on Thursday evening caused a collective gasp from the Roman crowd: 'Dominum Robertum Franciscum, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Prevost.' The stunned silence that followed spoke volumes. An American pope? Had hell frozen over? Apparently, the Holy Spirit has a sense of humour after all. He has given us Pope Leo XIV. There's shock value in Pope Leo, for reflexive anti-Americanism runs deep in the Vatican. So much so that an American pope has seemed a fantastical beast – the sort of thing you might find in Paolo Sorrentino's melodramatic thriller The Young Pope. A young, New York cardinal sensationally becomes Pope Pius XIII in that TV series, and rules with an iron staff. In truth, the Roman Curia is home to sardonic and world-weary inhabitants. They are naturally wary of American fervency. The Catholic Church has survived for 2,000 years by being constantly adaptable, not by being ever-dogmatic. A pope who took an uncompromising approach to Catholic teachings and church politics would be about as welcome among his officials as a vegan at a Roman trattoria. Few now think positively of Pius IX, the 19th-century pope who lost the Papal States and in 1864 wrote the hubristic Syllabus of Errors listing 80 heresies, from rationalism and liberalism, to public schools and divorce. So how then has the church ended up with an American leader? In truth, Prevost, affectionately (or not so affectionately) nicknamed 'the Latino Yankee,' was a pretty strong candidate for St Peter's chair. So much so that he survived what ought to have been a kiss of death: the endorsement of at least one of his fellow countrymen in the papabili (the group of candidates for pope) by Donald Trump. An insider-outsider, Leo XIV is technically from Chicago but has spent half his life in South America. With a mother of Spanish descent and naturalized Peruvian citizenship, he has seemed to identify as much with Latin America as with its northern neighbour. Prevost ticked many boxes in the cardinals' wish list – not because he is American, but in spite of it. He has pastoral experience running a diocese, but since 2023 has also headed the Vatican's department for bishops. At 69, he is the right age, has the right friends, and can burnish impeccably moderate credentials. Most importantly, as episcopal co-ordinator, he knows everybody – the Vatican equivalent of having the entire church's contact list in your phone. Few other papabile, except the fancied frontrunner Pietro Parolin, had that advantage. Prevost, the least American 'American' imaginable, is a literal dual passport holder but also its ecclesiastical equivalent. He is Catholic diplomacy's perfect hybrid: American efficiency with a Latin heart. Would God really hold nationality against him? Pope Leo XIV will have appealed to North American and European cardinals who wanted a pope competent enough to govern efficiently. But he also clearly won over Global South cardinals who wanted an evangelist dedicated to the marginal and poor. In political terms, he mastered the art of being all things to all people without seeming insincere. He let others project their opinions onto him. But because of that, his approach to guiding the church as pope is anybody's guess. Sure, he was one of Francis's protégés – but he has been notably reticent about divisive issues within the church. We know about his support for migrants, unsurprising given his commitment to Latin American societies, but what of his views about LGBTQ+ Catholics or women's roles in the church? What about the old rite Latin liturgy? Even in inauguration, Pope Leo XIV embodied studied ambiguity. He came out onto the basilica's balcony speaking like Pope Francis, but dressed like Pope Benedict XVI. He eschewed English, his mother tongue, in his greeting to the faithful. His words, instead, were in Italian and Spanish. I am not an American pope but a universal pontiff, he seemed to be saying. Yet he clearly understands the power of English. His first homily on Friday, a less conspicuous speech, began with English words. Leo XIV's message so far has been continuity, but also bridge-building (well, that's what the Latin pontifex literally means). He surely understands that trying to be all things to all people is ultimately impossible. But the pope's role is to make sure that everyone stays within Catholicism's broad embrace. He must find opportunities for inclusive gestures. Leo's name harks back to Pope Leo XIII, the great pope at the end of the 19th century who was remarkable for three things. His long reign stabilized the church after Italian unification. His reinvention of the papacy as a force for moral and spiritual leadership won it renewed respect as an institution. And his encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891) has become a foundational document for Catholic social teaching – its efforts to reconcile Catholicism with capitalism and democracy remain relevant. The new Pope Leo's message here is clear: he wants to be a figure for the 21st century comparable to the one Leo XIII was for the 20th. Leo XIII's papacy saw the church diversify away from Italy; Leo XIV's will see it consolidate its global status. What unites is more important than what divides has been another of Leo's themes so far. This amplifies Pope Francis's emphases. 'Peace' is the major goal in this scheme, and Leo mentioned it repeatedly in his first greeting to the faithful. Francis's passion project of 'synodality' was also referenced – although how far Leo follows Francis's precise course on these matters is yet to be determined. This will be a pontificate that builds on the last one, albeit smoothing out its rougher edges. But what of the new pope's relationship with the American church and the Trump administration? Pope Francis's dealings with them were among the roughest parts of his papacy. The Vatican is used to having to tread gingerly when it comes to China – indeed, critics said Francis was naïve or cynical in his approach to CCP interference – but not America. Francis drew severe criticism from some U.S. bishops, including Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke. Burke was one of five cardinals to send him a set of questions, or 'doubts,' about his teachings in 2023. A very public spat between U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and Francis earlier this year was quite unprecedented. Mr. Vance suggested that Catholics bear more responsibility for loving their families and neighbours than strangers. Francis slapped him down. Migrants are the worthiest among us, he pointedly preached. Both sides found the escalation alarming. That's why Mr. Vance went on a pilgrimage to Francis the day before he died. No administration wants to be pitted against the pope, although no shrewd pope ought to encourage Catholics to choose between their God and their politics either (who knows which way they would decide?). Pope Leo XIV, the bridge-builder, will likely want to walk back the hostilities. He can influence Mr. Trump through Mr. Vance or via his own popularity (for what does Mr. Trump respect if not that?) He can also reshape American church networks, replacing reactionary elements within them with more moderate figures. That might help lower temperatures. The only complication? That then-Cardinal Prevost reposted articles that supported Francis's position and were highly critical of Mr. Vance and the Trump administration. That social media feed now hangs awkwardly in the digital air. Many have now seen the posts, but nobody knows quite how to address them. Perhaps these can be explained as loyalty to a former boss: expressions of principle rather than a commentary on policy. The Trump administration would be wise to accept such reassurances graciously. 'It is such an honour to realize that he is the first American Pope,' Mr. Trump wrote on social media – perhaps an indication that he knows this. Yet few can be of any doubt that the new pope holds a very different vision of humanity, and of the place of American power within it, than the President or many of his supporters. They might agree on abortion, but what else? The risk, but also the hope, for anti-Trumpers is that Pope Leo now serves as a figurehead for an alternative world order and a radically different set of values. He certainly has the capacity to influence political debate both within and beyond the United States. Mr. Trump has showed how social media can be weaponized; Leo must now demonstrate how it can also be sanctified. Did the cardinal electors foresee these possibilities when choosing Cardinal Prevost? Did they intend to unleash them? For now, none will tell us. Conclave discussions remain sacrosanct. What happens in the Sistine Chapel stays there. But an American pope offering opposition to an American government? That echoes John Paul II's stance against communist Eastern Bloc regimes. We all know how that story ended. The Catholic Church has a proud tradition of popes who stand up to secular power: from Gregory VII, who made Emperor Henry IV walk barefoot through the snow at Canossa in 1077, to Pius VII, who faced down Napoleon even while held as his prisoner. Could the Latino Yankee's selection actually be the Holy Spirit's divine subtweet to American politics? Certainly over the next four years, and perhaps over a much longer time span, we seem destined to find out.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How a new pope is elected through a conclave
(NewsNation) — In just four days, one of the few truly mysterious gatherings of the modern world will begin. Some 133 cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel and are locked inside, tasked with choosing the next leader of the Catholic Church, the picking of the pope — a centuries-old selection process so confidential that the cardinals will be on a strict diet to prevent secret messaging. If no candidate reaches the two-thirds needed to be elected as the next pontiff, we will see black smoke until the cardinals come to a consensus, which will bring with it white smoke. Conclave: Unlocking the Mystery, a NewsNation special report This will be the most diverse and largest conclave in the history of the Catholic Church, many of whose members were appointed by Pope Francis himself. To this day, much mystery surrounds the Conclave, a process that consists of secret votes, political intrigue and, of course, faith. It is the third conclave of this century. Cardinals take an oath of secrecy with the penalty for violating it being excommunication. 'Ironically, we know a great deal more about what happened in conclaves 500 years ago because all of those letters are sitting around in state archives in Paris, Vienna, Madrid and so on,' Dr. Miles Pattenden, University of Oxford, told NewsNation. 'Whereas today, the Church is much better at keeping things secret. That's why every cardinal has to give up his mobile phone before he goes into the Sistine Chapel.' Betting on next pope gains popularity ahead of the conclave Yet there is no absence of technology. Vatican police are deploying signal jammers and sweeping for cameras and recording devices. Windows of the Sistine Chapel are taped up with privacy film to guard against everything from surreptitious satellite imagery to AI-powered lip reading. Despite the Renaissance uniforms and axe-bladed halberds of the Swiss Guard, the Vatican's army is armed to the teeth with machine guns and high-tech weaponry to ensure the safety of the sequestered cardinals. Inside, the conclave process has stayed virtually unchanged for 800 years. On Wednesday, after celebrating Mass, the cardinal electors will walk in procession to the Sistine Chapel. There, under the frescoes of Michelangelo, the potential future popes will take an oath of absolute secrecy before the master of ceremonies will expel onlookers with a simple Latin phrase 'extra omnes.' The doors of the Sistine Chapel will close to prying eyes before the cardinals sit for the opening vote. JD Vance defends Trump's AI pope photo 'Each of the cardinals writes on a slip of paper, which says in Latin something along the lines, 'I choose as pope' followed by the name. They are encouraged to masquerade their handwriting. These votes are counted and if there are enough a new pope has been elected. if there are not enough, they go to another vote,' former Vatican correspondent Philip Pullella told NewsNation. A cardinal must gain the support of two-thirds of the assembly if he is to ascend to the seat of Saint Peter. Hopefuls must straddle shifting alliances and ideological divisions. Conservatives eager for a return to tradition are pitted against reformists protective of Francis' legacy. Still, for all its earthly spectacle, the conclave is a process believed to be guided by the divine hand of the Holy Trinity. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
How long was the longest conclave? Facts about the secret voting to elect a pope
Conclave the film may have introduced moviegoers to the spectacular ritual and drama of a modern conclave, but the periodic voting to elect a new pope has been going on for centuries and created a whole genre of historical trivia. Here are some facts about conclaves past, derived from historical studies including Miles Pattenden's Electing the Pope in Early Modern Italy, 1450–1700, and interviews with experts including Elena Cangiano, an archeologist at Viterbo's Palazzo dei Papi (Palace of the Popes). – The longest conclave in history In the 13th century, it took almost three years – 1,006 days to be exact – to choose Pope Clement IV's successor, making it the longest conclave in the Catholic Church's history. It is also where the term conclave comes from – 'under lock and key' – because the cardinals who were meeting in Viterbo, north of Rome, took so long the town's frustrated citizens locked them in the room. The secret vote that elected Pope Gregory X lasted from November 1268 to September 1271. It was the first example of a papal election by 'compromise', after a long struggle between supporters of two main geopolitical medieval factions, those faithful to the papacy and those supporting the Holy Roman Empire. -'One-meal-a-day rule Gregory X was elected only after Viterbo residents tore the roof off the building where the prelates were staying and restricted their meals to bread and water to pressure them to come to a conclusion. Cardinals stand in prayer inside the Sistine Chapel after they entered the conclave area for electing the successor of John Paul I (AP) Hoping to avoid a repeat, Gregory X decreed in 1274 that cardinals would only get 'one meal a day' if the conclave stretched beyond three days, and only 'bread, water and wine' if it went beyond eight. That restriction has been dropped. – The shortest conclave ever Before 1274, there were times when a pope was elected the same day as the death of his predecessor. After that, however, the church decided to wait at least 10 days before the first vote. Later that was extended to 15 days to give all cardinals time to get to Rome. The quickest conclave observing the 10-day wait rule appears to have been the 1503 election of Pope Julius II, who was elected in just a few hours, according to Vatican historian Ambrogio Piazzoni. In more recent times, Pope Francis was elected in 2013 on the fifth ballot, Benedict XVI won in 2005 on the fourth and Pope Pius XII won on the third in 1939. – The first conclave in the Sistine Chapel The first conclave held in the Sistine Chapel was in 1492. Since 1878, the chapel, renowned for its Michelangelo frescoes, has become the venue of all conclaves. One of the cells in which a Cardinal will live during the Conclave, at the Vatican (AP) 'Everything is conducive to an awareness of the presence of God, in whose sight each person will one day be judged,' St John Paul II wrote in his 1996 document regulating the conclave, Universi Dominici Gregis. The cardinals sleep a short distance away in the nearby Domus Santa Marta hotel or a nearby residence. – The alternative locations Most conclaves were held in Rome, with some taking place outside the Vatican walls. Four were held in the Pauline Chapel of the papal residence at the Quirinale Palace, while some 30 others were held in St John Lateran Basilica, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva or other places in Rome. On 15 occasions they took place outside Rome and the Vatican altogether, including in Viterbo, Perugia, Arezzo and Venice in Italy, and Konstanz, Germany, and Lyon, France. – The alternative popes, or antipopes Between 1378-1417, referred to by historians as the Western Schism, there were rival claimants to the title of pope. The schism produced multiple papal contenders, the so-called antipopes, splitting the Catholic Church for nearly 40 years. The most prominent antipopes during the Western Schism were Clement VII, Benedict XIII, Alexander V, and John XXIII. The schism was ultimately resolved by the Council of Constance in 1417, which led to the election of Martin V, a universally accepted pontiff. – A challenge to personal hygiene The cloistered nature of the conclave posed another challenge for cardinals: staying healthy. Before the Domus Santa Marta guest house was built in 1996, cardinal electors slept on cots in rooms connected to the Sistine Chapel. Conclaves in the 16th and 17th centuries were described as 'disgusting' and 'badly smelling', with concern about disease outbreaks, particularly in summer, according to historian Miles Pattenden. White smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel when a new pope has been elected (Gregorio Borgia/AP) 'The cardinals simply had to have a more regular and comfortable way of living because they were old men, many of them with quite advanced disease,' Pattenden wrote. The enclosed space and lack of ventilation further aggravated these issues. Some of the electors left the conclave sick, often seriously. – Vow of secrecy Initially, papal elections were not as secretive, but concerns about political interference soared during the longest conclave in Viterbo. Gregory X decreed that cardinal electors should be locked in seclusion, 'cum clave' (with a key), until a new pope was chosen. The purpose was to create a totally secluded environment where the cardinals could focus on their task, guided by God's will, without any political interference or distractions. Over the centuries, various popes have modified and reinforced the rules surrounding the conclave, emphasising the importance of secrecy. – Youngest pope, oldest pope Pope John XII was just 18 when he was elected in 955. The oldest popes were Pope Celestine III (elected in 1191) and Celestine V (elected in 1294) who were both nearly 85. Benedict XVI was 78 when he was elected in 2005. – A non-cardinal pope and non-Italian pope There is no requirement that a pope be a cardinal, but that has been the case for centuries. The last time a pope was elected who was not a cardinal was Urban VI in 1378. He was a monk and archbishop of Bari. While the Italians have had a stranglehold on the papacy over centuries, there have been many exceptions aside from John Paul II (Polish, in 1978) and Benedict XVI (German, in 2005) and Francis (Argentine, in 2013). Alexander VI, elected in 1492, was Spanish; Gregory III, elected in 731, was Syrian; Adrian VI, elected in 1522, was from the Netherlands.
BreakingNews.ie
02-05-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
How long was the longest conclave? Facts about the secret voting to elect a pope
Conclave the film may have introduced moviegoers to the spectacular ritual and drama of a modern conclave, but the periodic voting to elect a new pope has been going on for centuries and created a whole genre of historical trivia. Here are some facts about conclaves past, derived from historical studies including Miles Pattenden's Electing the Pope in Early Modern Italy, 1450–1700, and interviews with experts including Elena Cangiano, an archeologist at Viterbo's Palazzo dei Papi (Palace of the Popes). Advertisement – The longest conclave in history In the 13th century, it took almost three years – 1,006 days to be exact – to choose Pope Clement IV's successor, making it the longest conclave in the Catholic Church's history. It is also where the term conclave comes from – 'under lock and key' – because the cardinals who were meeting in Viterbo, north of Rome, took so long the town's frustrated citizens locked them in the room. The secret vote that elected Pope Gregory X lasted from November 1268 to September 1271. It was the first example of a papal election by 'compromise', after a long struggle between supporters of two main geopolitical medieval factions, those faithful to the papacy and those supporting the Holy Roman Empire. Advertisement -'One-meal-a-day rule Gregory X was elected only after Viterbo residents tore the roof off the building where the prelates were staying and restricted their meals to bread and water to pressure them to come to a conclusion. Cardinals stand in prayer inside the Sistine Chapel after they entered the conclave area for electing the successor of John Paul I (AP) Hoping to avoid a repeat, Gregory X decreed in 1274 that cardinals would only get 'one meal a day' if the conclave stretched beyond three days, and only 'bread, water and wine' if it went beyond eight. That restriction has been dropped. – The shortest conclave ever Before 1274, there were times when a pope was elected the same day as the death of his predecessor. Advertisement After that, however, the church decided to wait at least 10 days before the first vote. Later that was extended to 15 days to give all cardinals time to get to Rome. The quickest conclave observing the 10-day wait rule appears to have been the 1503 election of Pope Julius II, who was elected in just a few hours, according to Vatican historian Ambrogio Piazzoni. In more recent times, Pope Francis was elected in 2013 on the fifth ballot, Benedict XVI won in 2005 on the fourth and Pope Pius XII won on the third in 1939. – The first conclave in the Sistine Chapel The first conclave held in the Sistine Chapel was in 1492. Advertisement Since 1878, the chapel, renowned for its Michelangelo frescoes, has become the venue of all conclaves. One of the cells in which a Cardinal will live during the Conclave, at the Vatican (AP) 'Everything is conducive to an awareness of the presence of God, in whose sight each person will one day be judged,' St John Paul II wrote in his 1996 document regulating the conclave, Universi Dominici Gregis. The cardinals sleep a short distance away in the nearby Domus Santa Marta hotel or a nearby residence. – The alternative locations Most conclaves were held in Rome, with some taking place outside the Vatican walls. Advertisement Four were held in the Pauline Chapel of the papal residence at the Quirinale Palace, while some 30 others were held in St John Lateran Basilica, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva or other places in Rome. On 15 occasions they took place outside Rome and the Vatican altogether, including in Viterbo, Perugia, Arezzo and Venice in Italy, and Konstanz, Germany, and Lyon, France. – The alternative popes, or antipopes Between 1378-1417, referred to by historians as the Western Schism, there were rival claimants to the title of pope. The schism produced multiple papal contenders, the so-called antipopes, splitting the Catholic Church for nearly 40 years. The most prominent antipopes during the Western Schism were Clement VII, Benedict XIII, Alexander V, and John XXIII. The schism was ultimately resolved by the Council of Constance in 1417, which led to the election of Martin V, a universally accepted pontiff. – A challenge to personal hygiene The cloistered nature of the conclave posed another challenge for cardinals: staying healthy. Before the Domus Santa Marta guest house was built in 1996, cardinal electors slept on cots in rooms connected to the Sistine Chapel. Conclaves in the 16th and 17th centuries were described as 'disgusting' and 'badly smelling', with concern about disease outbreaks, particularly in summer, according to historian Miles Pattenden. White smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel when a new pope has been elected (Gregorio Borgia/AP) 'The cardinals simply had to have a more regular and comfortable way of living because they were old men, many of them with quite advanced disease,' Pattenden wrote. The enclosed space and lack of ventilation further aggravated these issues. Some of the electors left the conclave sick, often seriously. – Vow of secrecy Initially, papal elections were not as secretive, but concerns about political interference soared during the longest conclave in Viterbo. Gregory X decreed that cardinal electors should be locked in seclusion, 'cum clave' (with a key), until a new pope was chosen. The purpose was to create a totally secluded environment where the cardinals could focus on their task, guided by God's will, without any political interference or distractions. Over the centuries, various popes have modified and reinforced the rules surrounding the conclave, emphasising the importance of secrecy. – Youngest pope, oldest pope Pope John XII was just 18 when he was elected in 955. The oldest popes were Pope Celestine III (elected in 1191) and Celestine V (elected in 1294) who were both nearly 85. Benedict XVI was 78 when he was elected in 2005. – A non-cardinal pope and non-Italian pope There is no requirement that a pope be a cardinal, but that has been the case for centuries. The last time a pope was elected who was not a cardinal was Urban VI in 1378. He was a monk and archbishop of Bari. While the Italians have had a stranglehold on the papacy over centuries, there have been many exceptions aside from John Paul II (Polish, in 1978) and Benedict XVI (German, in 2005) and Francis (Argentine, in 2013). Alexander VI, elected in 1492, was Spanish; Gregory III, elected in 731, was Syrian; Adrian VI, elected in 1522, was from the Netherlands.
