papal papal meeting convened elect new known pope pope considered roman catholics successor head roman_catholic_church procedure choosing pope thousand years oldest ongoing method choosing leader institution history political interference papal selection consequently long culminating prompted pope gregory decree cardinal locked cum latin key permitted leave new elected held chapel like bishops chosen consensus clergy diocese body precisely defined designated sole body details process developed pope limited cardinals years age current procedures established pope constitution amended pope dated june february thirds vote required elect new pope requires acceptance person elected historical development procedures relating election pope undergone development procedures similar present system introduced based action electorate christian communities established started elect bishops chosen clergy community assistance bishops neighbouring says pope chosen decree god church testimony nearly clergy college aged bishops good men true bishops clergy diocese rome electoral body instead casting votes bishop selected general consensus candidate submitted people general approval disapproval lack precision election procedures occasionally gave rise rival right refuse person elected abolished held restored roman pope nicholas rome pope subjected loyalty task provide security public peace rome major change introduced pope decreed cardinals elect candidate office receiving clergy cardinal bishops meet discuss candidates cardinal priests cardinal actual vote removed requirement lower clergy obtained gave equal rights entire new pope middle ages renaissance small number cardinals seven pope pope difficult travel reduced number arriving small electorate individual vote significant easily shaken political lines months years addition decree locked limited cardinal servants food progressively fourth ninth days fail elect new pope strict rules disliked cardinals temporarily suspended pope adrian formally revoked later year intended new constitution governing papal election died lengthy elections resumed continued norm elected pope reinstated strict soon resigned long occurred original dispersed besieging mercenaries years passed result pope limited maximum number cardinals following precedent moses assisted elders governing children israel cardinal bishops cardinal priests cardinal beginning pope attempts representation nations number increased decreed cardinals reaching age eighty start ineligible vote increased limit active cardinal remains theoretical limit exceeded short periods time knowledge impending specified cardinals eighty day holy vacant entitled vote turned eighty time starts choice originally lay status bar election bishops elected case wake violent dispute election pope held decreed cardinal priest cardinal elected specifically excluding bishops early fully ignored election pope formally codified existing practice preference given clergy rome leaving cardinal bishops free select decided restrictions eligibility rescinded pope urban pope elected outside person elected pope ordained priest pope successor pope adrian elected recent history reported archbishop milan received votes despite cardinal newly elected elevated immediately succeeded catholic_church holds women ordained women eligible claims female pope including legendary pope joan fictitious tale began satire state corruption things bad woman elected pope pope need italian background current pope francis predecessor german pole simple majority vote election council increased required majority thirds cardinals allowed vote elaborate procedure adopted ensure secrecy time preventing self voting pope removed prohibition cardinal voting increasing majority thirds plus times change immediately overturned successor reinstated thirds majority number cardinal voting rounding thirds plus rule reinstated thirteen years later overturned constitution allowed election absolute majority prevailed thirty thirty ballots rescinded change criticised effectively thirds majority requirement majority block election simple majority elect pope requirement thirds majority choices compromise scrutiny cardinals unanimously declare new pope quasi inspired holy spirit took place formal ballot taken place method called method excluded elect compromise college unanimously delegate election committee cardinals choice agree scrutiny election casting secret ballots method cardinals change recent vote candidate attempt reach thirds majority end method election compromise considered pope election pope innocent long unused methods compromise formally abolished scrutiny approved method election new pope secular influence significant history church influenced choice leaders powerful monarchs governments example roman emperors held considerable sway elections settled controversial election pope challenger request ordered future cases disputed election settled fresh election demise influence passed kings italy pope formally recognised right monarchs elections monarchy overthrown power passed byzantine emperors procedure adopted officials required death pope proceeding election arrived choice required send delegation constantinople requesting emperor consent necessary individual elected office lengthy delays caused journey constantinople pope complained emperor constantine ending requirement elections confirmed emperors emperor required notified pope byzantine emperors pope 9th century came exert control elections interfere claimed election conducted presence imperial ambassadors riots forced pope recognise time roman nobility continued exert great influence especially tenth century period known latin dark age papal bull restricted suffrage cardinals recognised authority time concession pope declaring authority intervene elections permitted papal agreements vii submit interference breach holy roman empire caused led abolition emperor role worms accepting papal decision certain catholic monarchs claimed right exclusion veto papal elections exercised crown cardinal informal convention state claiming veto allowed exercise right crown cardinal announce veto moment candidate question likely elected strictly enforced known exercised veto twice employed election dissolved veto power exercise veto prince jan informed austria opposed election consequently college elected pope issued papal bull months later declaring cardinal communicated government veto future suffer resolve prolonged earlier years papal elections local authorities resorted forced cardinal adopted city rome possibly forced cardinals failed produce pope city refused send materials bread water failed produce result townspeople removed roof attempt speed election attempt avoid future lengthy elections introduced stringent rules cardinals closed area accorded individual rooms cardinal allowed ill attended servants food supplied window avoid outside contact days cardinals receive dish day days receive bread water cardinal receive ecclesiastical revenue strict regulations abolished elected following year vacancy restored issued papal bull introduced regulations relating enclosure procedures issued covered minute details relating election concerned electoral processes fixed ceremonies observed pope issued constitution consolidating previous rules making changes reforms instituted location fixed fourteenth century western elections held rome french troops occupying rome forced election held venice normally treaties independent vatican city state palace chapel vatican served location election fine tuned rules election successors pope governed pope pope governed modern practice new constitution called slight modification pope election pope previous matter preserving procedures date earlier times cardinals lodged purpose built continue vote chapel duties performed dean cardinal bishop dean entitled participate owing age place taken cardinal bishop participate senior cardinal bishop participating performs functions small body proposals electorate expanded proposed reforms include plan replace electoral body includes members present procedure meet called pope explicitly provides council session time pope death perform election pope death body proceedings suspended resumed order new pope considered poor form campaign position pope inevitably speculation cardinals prospects elected speculation tends mount pope ill aged potential candidates appear media cardinal considered prospect described informally form term coined italian speaking vatican mid twentieth century literally meaning pope able death pope death pope verified chamberlain traditionally performed task gently striking pope head small silver hammer calling christian papal times 20th century use hammer ritual abandoned merely declare pope death presence secretary chancellor camera takes possession ring fisherman worn pope ring papal seal later destroyed tradition originated avoid documents today merely symbol end pope reign papal vacancy known certain limited powers pass dean cardinals obliged attend general congregation cardinals health permit eighty cardinals choose attend deals day day matters church includes cardinal cardinal assistants cardinal chosen lot days new cardinal assistants chosen lot cardinal assistants responsible things maintaining election secrecy congregations certain arrangements respect pope burial tradition takes place days pope death leaving time pilgrims dead followed day period mourning known latin days congregations fix date time commencement normally takes place days death pope congregations extend period maximum days order permit cardinals arrive resignation pope vacancy papal office result papal resignation resignation february pope book light world espoused idea health grounds theological sealing chapel cardinals hear election actually entering settled chapel cases meant lay current state church suggest qualities necessary pope possess specific time preacher preacher papal household member order spoke meetings cardinals held actual day began cardinal professor non voting member age spoke doors finally closed morning day designated cardinal assemble celebrate gather afternoon chapel palace vatican whilst singing cardinals sing congregation oath observe procedures set elected defend liberty holy maintain secrecy disregard instructions secular authorities voting reads oath aloud order precedence rank taken precedence cardinal repeat oath touching oath follows ego surname sic cardinal promise swear god help holy touch hand outsiders cardinals present taken oath master papal celebrations orders individuals cardinal participants leave chapel traditionally stands door chapel calls extra latin roughly everybody closes door modern practice master papal celebrations stand door chapel master stood altar gave command went chapel doors close outsiders left master remain designated congregations prior commencement election makes speech concerning problems facing church qualities new pope needs speech concludes leaves following prayers cardinal dean asks doubts relating procedure remain doubts election commence cardinals arrive begun admitted ill cardinal leave later cardinal leaves reason illness return past cardinal accompanied nurse accompany cardinal reasons ill health confirmed needs assistance secretary masters ceremonies officers assisting dean admitted priests available hear confessions different languages doctors admitted finally strictly limited number servant staff permitted preparing serving meals secrecy maintained cardinals staff forbidden disclose information relating election cardinal correspond outside post radio telephone internet social media offense cardinals permitted communicate outside world grave circumstances prior approval college duties cardinal vicar diocese rome vicar general elected chapel swept latest electronic devices detect hidden bugs surveillance devices reports found previous press reporters disguised servants discovered specifically prohibits media newspapers radio television access blocked wireless signal deployed chapel prevent form electronic communications cardinal voting afternoon day ballot held ballot takes place afternoon day elected ballot taken place ballots held successive day morning afternoon voting morning voting afternoon oath obey rules result obtained vote days process suspended maximum day prayer address senior cardinal seven ballots process similarly suspended address delivered senior cardinal priest seven ballots result achieved voting suspended address delivered senior seven ballots shall day prayer reflection dialogue following ballots names received votes ballot shall eligible runoff election people voted cardinal shall right vote process voting comprises phases pre scrutiny scrutiny post scrutiny pre scrutiny pre scrutiny prepare ballot papers bearing words elect supreme provide cardinal cardinals begin write votes secretary exit junior cardinal closes door junior cardinal draws lot names second selected scrutiny cardinals perform task second scrutiny lunch election resumes oath obey rules taken cardinals assemble chapel names chosen new scrutiny necessary fourth immediately follows changes rules rules followed far known given secrecy pope francis march scrutiny scrutiny phase election follows cardinal proceed order precedence completed ballots bear individual voted altar stand casting ballot cardinal takes latin oath translates witness christ lord judge vote given god think elected cardinal chapel proceed altar ballot oath recited cardinal reason confined room rooms ballot papers box sick cardinals oath complete ballot papers return chapel ballots counted ensure number matches number ill cardinals deposited appropriate oath taken cardinals cast ballots chosen scrutiny second scrutiny immediately follows total taken day morning afternoon oath casting vote anonymous longer signed ballot candidate previously ballot signed included unique identification code folded places cover signature sealed wax result semi secret ballot example procedure prior example copy old section semi secret ballot oath taken actually casting ballots prior completely secret ballots option cardinals present voting prior secret ballots oath taken vote actually cast prior cardinals verbally voted stood groups facilitate counting votes cast signature covered folded parts ballot paper added prevent casting deciding vote cardinal pole england refused cast deciding vote elected cardinal pope cast deciding vote faced mortal challenge fearing stormy late 16th early 17th centuries established procedure prevent cardinal casting deciding vote cardinal cast deciding vote majority rule continued modified rule ballots simple majority sufficient majority rule restored prior oath taken obedience rules force time cardinals entered doors locked morning afternoon entered chapel vote added additional oath taken cardinal casts ballot prevent cardinals time casting courtesy votes instead number realistic candidates papal throne speed pope important meant oath cardinals business new pope number potentially candidates reforms reaffirmed created written detailed step step procedure choosing pope procedure essentially elect biggest change elimination rule required sign ballots resulting detailed voting procedure scrutiny making use anonymous significant change modern era significant change step step voting procedure detailed voting procedure created change votes cast chosen container removes counts ballots number ballots correspond number cardinal present including sick cardinals rooms ballots burnt vote repeated irregularities observed ballots opened votes counted ballot separately write indicated ballot reads aloud ballots opened final post scrutiny phase begins post scrutiny add votes check ballots names lists ensure error ballots burned assistance secretary scrutiny held given morning afternoon result election cardinals proceed scrutiny immediately papers burned end second scrutiny smoke colors color smoke indicates results people assembled dark smoke indicates ballot result election white smoke announces new pope chosen originally event pope elected damp straw added fire create dark smoke event new pope elected ballots burned creating white smoke prior changed form ballot use anonymous carried sealing wax complex type ballots illustrated effect making smoke burning ballots black white depending damp straw added 20th century sealing wax mixed composition use wax solely animal fat white colored smoke wax includes simple experiment confirm confusion smoke color apparent explains confusion color smoke papal caused lack sealing wax ballots thesis based confusion smoke color day chemicals added burning process beginning bells ring successful election augment white smoke vatican disclosed chemicals color smoke black smoke potassium smoke potassium milk sugar pine acceptance proclamation election concludes cardinal dean summons secretary hall cardinal dean asks pope elect election saying latin accept canonical election requirement pope elect free respond non don accept practice cardinal intends accept explicitly state receives sufficient number votes pope october accepts bishop immediately takes office bishop consecrated assume office priest elected cardinal dean bishop elected cardinal dean priest bishop bishop pope elect office functions dean assumed necessary sub dean sub dean assumed senior cardinal bishop attendance dean elected pope dean sub dean attendance age limit functions assumed cardinal new pope decided pope adopt new papal felt original inappropriate roman god cases considerations absent tend choose papal names different names pope reign pope newly elected pope accepts election cardinal dean asks papal saying latin quo wish called papal chosen officials writes document recording acceptance new pope past cardinals voting sat cardinals collective governance church period acceptance new pope election cardinals attendance pull cord lower respective signifying end period collective governance newly elected pope canopy remained time beginning august longer lack space resulting large increase number cardinal end new pope chose skull cap secretary indicating secretary cardinal create cardinals prior tradition followed newly elected pope bestowed cardinal skull cap created cardinal december year portuguese section reported conclusion newly elected pope francis bestowed secretary february pope francis formally cardinal title new pope goes room tears small red room chapel room nickname strong emotions experienced new pope new pope dresses choosing set choir robes consisting white red sizes provided wears gold pectoral cross red gold stole white papal head red gold pectoral cross wearing white pectoral cross appeared central balcony emerge wearing stole removing shortly senior cardinal appears new pope usually proceeds traditional latin formula assuming new pope cardinal announcement pope election cardinal greeted crowds different languages dear brothers sisters proceeding latin announcement elected happened past person elected pope event announcement senior succeeded time cardinal elected elected pope senior cardinal future pope announcement election pope appeared started announcement physically incapable completing following announcement senior cardinal papal aides large banner bears late pope arms centre pope francis announcement image predecessor arms indicating previous pope alive pope appearance following election banner showed arms pope instead arms immediate predecessor pope new pope emerges balcony crowd brass band plays blessing pope occasion choose shorter episcopal blessing blessing instead traditional blessing happened recently pope election beginning pope elected including chosen address crowds blessing pope francis appearance led faithful prayers predecessor asked prayers blessing pope later crowned triple refused elaborate coronation choosing instead simpler papal inauguration ceremony historical voting patterns newly elected pope contrasts dramatically predecessor tendency expressed italian saying fat pope lean pope past cardinals voted radically different pope appointed controversial time populist turned conservative long lived succeeded aristocratic diplomatic pope turn succeeded lower class outspoken pope rugged ultra contrasted low key pope contrasted librarian mountain pope led roman catholicism akin shared temperament succeeded secretary state aristocratic ultra insider pope seen great assume 20th century ultimate insider grandfather father cousin brother vatican high ranking officials succeeded lower class elderly popular informal pope contrast intellectual distant humble words ordinary good pope john dramatic surprised election pope john reportedly return rail ticket pocket elected john proved radical break previous 20th century short dramatic replaced widely expected believed elected cardinal pope like worked 1930s 1940s briefly succeeded non pope turn succeeded pope non italian spoke languages originally important consideration given contemporary cold war politics church repression relatively long reign succeeded pope reserved conservative predecessor reigned resignation succeeded simpler formal direct
Papal conclave