Catechesis on the Papacy 0BFrequently Asked Questions 1BPapal Conclave In the early days of the church, the pope was chosen by clergy and laity. In 1059, Nicholas II gave Cardinals the leading role in electing popes, in part to fight off feuding and lobbying by families and civil officials that was making the position more political than spiritual. In 1179, Pope Alexander III restricted the election to Cardinals and decided it would take a vote of two-thirds of the Cardinals to elect the Pope (a rule that holds true today). In 1268, following the death of Clement IV, it took three years to choose the next pope, Gregory X. That happened only after local officials (in Viterbo, Italy where the election was) locked the cardinals in a building with no roof and threatened they would only get bread and water. Gregory X was elected almost immediately. Gregory X then stipulated the Cardinals should gather in the town where the Pope died and be locked in without a key to avoid outside influence. The cardinals couldn t receive any funds during the conclave from the papal treasury and, after eight days, would be fed bread and water. In 1274, conclave rules were spelled out at the Council of Lyons. Many of these rules remain. In 1996, Pope John Paul II issued an apostolic constitution, Universi Dominici Gregis: on the vacancy of the Apostolic See and the Election of the Roman Pontiff, outlining the norms to follow when the papacy is vacant. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued a motu proprio, Constitutione Apostolica, amending Universi Dominici Gregis and requiring a two-thirds vote for the election of a new pope, regardless of how many ballots are needed. 4BUWhat happens when the Pope dies or resigns? 1. The camerlengo confirms the pope s death. Traditionally, he would tap the Holy Father s forehead three times with a small hammer while calling out his baptismal
name. However, in light of modern advances in determining death, this may no longer occur. In the case of resignation, Canon 332, 2 states that it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone. Pope Benedict XVI made clear his intention to resign at a consistory of cardinals on February 11, 2013. The resignation takes effect on the date and time indicated by the Pope, in this case on February 28, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. Vatican City time. Once the resignation takes effect, the Apostolic See is vacant (sede vacante) and the procedure for calling a conclave to elect a new pope commences. 2. The papal apartment is sealed. 3. The world community is informed. The Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, tells world leaders, diplomatic corps and the other cardinals. 4. The heads of dicasteries cease to exercise their offices with few exceptions, one being the Major Penitentiary, currently Cardinal HManuel Monteiro de CastroH, and another the Camerlengo, currently Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. 5. All Cardinals under 80 years old travel to Rome; Cardinals over 80 may choose to do so and attend the preparatory sessions before the conclave. However, they are not permitted to take part in the election. 6. The Cardinals meet daily in General Congregations between the death/resignation and the start of the election. They plan for the funeral and election; ensure the destruction of the Fisherman s ring, and the lead seal used to seal Papal documents; and choose two ecclesiastics known for sound doctrine to present meditations on (1) issues facing the church and (2) the need for careful discernment in choosing the pope. Cardinals over 80 may participate in the General Congregations. A Particular Congregation of four cardinals also meets to handle ordinary matters. 7. The funeral is 4-6 days after death. Burial typically is in a crypt below the basilica. The pope is buried in his vestments, with a certified death certificate, key documents of his papacy, coins and medals struck during his papacy and the destroyed Fisherman s ring. 8. A novena of Memorial Masses is held, starting with the funeral Mass. 5BUHow is the new Pope elected? 1. The conclave, or election, begins 15-20 days after death, with the Cardinals assembling in the Sistine Chapel. In the case of resignation, the preparation for the conclave begins immediately after the resignation takes effect. 2. The order extra omnes (all out) is given and everyone not authorized to be in the room must leave.
3. Secrecy and avoiding outside influence is vital. The cardinals take two oaths of secrecy, one when they arrive in Rome and one when the conclave begins. The Sistine Chapel is swept for electronic listening devices; the cardinals are barred from outside communications, including reading the news; and they must stay together at the Domus Santa Marta, a residence on Vatican grounds. The few people allowed near them must take an oath of secrecy: aides/masters of ceremonies; housekeeping and cooking staff; two doctors; and priests for hearing confessions. A cardinal who is ill and requires assistance may have a personal aide. All of these people must be approved by the Particular Congregation. 4. Election is by scrutiny, or secret ballot; a two-thirds vote of the cardinals present is required to elect a pope. 5. Cardinals write the names on a ballot that is then folded in half. They carry the completed ballot in the air so all can see it, place it on a paten (plate) placed on the altar and drop the ballot into a repository. 6. Two votes are held each morning and each afternoon until a pope is elected. Depending on when the conclave begins and how long it takes for all of the cardinals to take their oaths, a single vote may be held the first day. 7. If the vote is inconclusive, the ballots are burned and black smoke rises (traditionally, the black smoke was caused by using wet straw; now chemicals are used). If a vote is successful, white smoke rises. 8. If there is an impasse after three days, the Cardinals take a short break for prayer, informal discussion among themselves and a brief spiritual exhortation by the Senior Cardinal Deacon, currently Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, then go through up to three more series of seven votes, break, etc. If there is a deadlock, the Cardinals are to have a day of prayer and dialogue. After that, the two Cardinals with the most votes on the last balloting are the only candidates for election and they are prohibited from voting. The number required for a valid vote remains two-thirds. 6BUWhat happens when a new Pontiff is chosen? 1. The Dean of the College of Cardinals (if under 80, otherwise the senior Cardinal elector in rank) asks the newly chosen pontiff, Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff? If the answer is yes, he immediately becomes the bishop of Rome and pope. He also chooses the name he wishes to use at this moment. (The first time a pope chose a new name was in the sixth century; it became the norm 1,000 years ago.) 2. The newly elected pope changes into white papal vestments (Cardinals wear red choir dress while voting) and returns to the Sistine Chapel where the cardinals offer a sign of obedience and homage.
3. He goes to the balcony over the main door of St. Peter s Basilica. The Senior Cardinal- Deacon, currently Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, announces in Latin we have a new pope and give his baptismal name, surname and chosen papal name. 4. The new pope gives his urbi et orbi (to the city and world) blessing. 5. He celebrates a Mass at an appropriate time to mark the beginning of his Petrine ministry. 3BKey players and their names 2BDefinitions Camerlengo: Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone: appointed to this position by Pope Benedict XVI in April 2007; roles include confirming the death of the Holy Father; administering the Church s property and finances during the sede vacante; and destroying the Fisherman s Ring. Dean of the College of Cardinals: Cardinal Angelo Sodano: senior cardinal elected by the Cardinal Bishops of the suburbicarian sees and approved by the Pope; presides over the General Congregations of cardinals during the sede vacante if he is an elector. Otherwise the presider is the senior Cardinal elector in rank, currently Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re; notifies international leaders and the diplomatic corps; and calls the cardinals to Rome when the pope dies. Senior Cardinal Deacon: Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran: created cardinal by Pope John Paul II in October 2003; proclaims the name of a newly elected Pope to the public and gives a spiritual exhortation to the Cardinals if a Pope hasn t been elected after three days of voting. He is 69, French, and was appointed President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue by Pope Benedict XVI in June 2007. Ranks of Cardinals Papal conclave rules refer to the three ranks of cardinals in assigning a few key roles (such as announcing the Pope s death or election): Cardinal bishops: six Latin-rite Cardinals who are bishops of the suburbicarian sees, one of whom is dean of the College of Cardinals, and any Eastern rite patriarchs Cardinal priests: mainly diocesan archbishops and bishops, but some curial members Cardinal deacons: mainly curial members Congregations (meet during the death and beginning of the election of a new Pope): General Congregation: the cardinals who have gathered in Rome following a vacancy in the Apostolic See. They meet daily until the election and handle serious matters, such as plans for the burial of the pope and election of the next pope, and approve the expenses for this.
Particular Congregation: a group of four cardinals that handles routine matters during the sede vacante, including the camerlengo and three other cardinals, one from each order of cardinal. Dicasteries: departments that make up the Vatican s central administration. Sede vacante: time period in which the Apostolic See is vacant. Universi Dominici Gregis: Pope John Paul II s 1996 apostolic constitution, which explains the procedures to be followed when the papacy is vacant. Constitutione Apostolica: Pope Benedict XVI s 2007 motu proprio, amending Universi Dominici Gregis Election key words Conclave: Conclave comes from the Latin words for with a key, cum clave. The Cardinals are locked with a key in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Scrutiny: secret ballot by which a cardinal votes. This is the sole voting method permitted in Universi Dominici Gregis. Previously, a pope could be chosen by voice acclamation or, when there was a deadlock, by compromise worked out by delegates. The guidelines were changed given the diversity of the current College of Cardinals (in the case of the acclamation); the complexity of rules that evolved during delegate negotiations; and concern it lessened the responsibility of individual cardinals. Scrutineers: three cardinals chosen by lot who count the votes. Infirmarii: three cardinals chosen by lot who distribute ballots to and collect them from cardinals too infirm to be in the Sistine Chapel (these cardinals stay at Santa Marta). Revisers: three cardinals chosen by lot; they double-check the scrutineers counts after each ballot. Sistine Chapel: place where the election is held.