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April 11, 2005 
VOL.
43, NO. 7Oakland,
CA
VATICAN CITY—The procedure to be followed in the
election a new pope evolved over many centuries and was revised most recently
by John Paul II in the 1996 apostolic constitution “Universi Dominici
Gregis” (The Shepherd of the Lord’s Whole Flock).
Until the conclave to elect the new pope opens on April 18, the College
of Cardinals meets daily in a “general congregation” presided
over by the dean of the college, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a German who
heads the Vatican’s Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith. Attendance
is optional for cardinals age 80 and over, and they do not vote in the
conclave.
The conclave opens
The word conclave is derived from the Latin cum, meaning “with,”
and clave, meaning “key.” It was first used by Pope Gregory
X in July 1274 in a proclamation regulating the procedure for electing
a pope in a meeting place that can be securely locked.
The conclave should open 15 days after the death of a pope but can be
postponed to 20 days if circumstances warrant. All cardinals under the
age of 80 are eligible to vote for the new pope. Currently, 117 are eligible.
The cardinals live in seclusion in the recently constructed Domus Sanctae
Marthae inside the Vatican walls. They meet to vote under Michelangelo’s
famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, which is next door to St. Peter’s
Basilica.
Once the conclave begins, a cardinal-elector may leave only because of
illness or other serious reason accepted by a majority of his fellow cardinals.
The doctors, nurses, confessors, masters of liturgical ceremonies, sacristans
and various priest assistants and housekeeping and catering staff who
attend to the cardinals’ needs must swear never to tell anything
they learn about the election.
The conclave opens in the morning with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
In the afternoon, the cardinals, vested in scarlet robes, walk in procession
in order of seniority from the Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace
to the Sistine Chapel to the chant of the ninth century Latin hymn, “Veni,
Creator Spiritus.”
The cardinals take an oath of secrecy. They swear to accept no interference
in the election and to observe the rules set down in the Apostolic Constitution
on the election of a pope.
They also swear that whomever they elect will carry out the mission of
pastor of the universal Church and will “affirm and defend strenuously
the spiritual and temporal rights and liberty of the Holy See.”
The master of pontifical liturgical celebrations then orders all those
not taking part or assisting in the conclave to leave, using the Latin
phrase “Extra omnes” (All out). Assisted by the undersecretary
of state, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, he closes off the cardinals’
hotel and Sistine Chapel.
Following a meditation by a priest, whom the cardinals have chosen earlier,
all those remaining who are not cardinals leave the chapel. Voting can
begin immediately, or the next morning.
The voting begins
Each day of balloting starts with the selection of three scrutineers who
count the votes, three infirmarians who collect the ballots of any cardinals
too ill to go to the chapel, and three revisers who review the ballot
count.
Elaborate precautions are taken to ensure that there is no fraud of any
kind.
Each cardinal, disguising his handwriting, enters the name of his choice
on a two-inch wide rectangular card on which is printed at the top the
Latin phrase “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (I elect as Supreme
Pontiff). He folds the ballot lengthwise to conceal the name.
The cardinals walk to the altar one-by-one in order of precedence, holding
the ballot aloft. Each prelate kneels briefly to pray and on rising declares,
“I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that
my vote is given to the one whom, before God, I think should be elected.”
He then places the ballot on a paten, or plate, which covers a receptacle,
usually a chalice. Lifting the paten, he allows the ballot to drop into
the receptacle. The cardinal infirmarians leave the chapel carrying a
locked box with a slit top to collect the ballots of sick cardinals.
Counting the ballots
Once all the cardinals have voted, the first scrutineer mixes the ballots
by shaking the receptacle. The third scrutineer counts the still-folded
ballots. If the number of ballots is not the same as the number of electors
the ballots are burned, and the cardinals immediately vote again.
If the number of ballots is correct, the scrutineers begin the count seated
at a table in front of the altar. The first scrutineer unfolds each ballot,
silently notes the name written on it and hands it to the second scrutineer,
who does the same and hands it on to the third, who reads the name aloud
and records it. The cardinals may also keep a tally.
At the end of the count, the scrutineers announce the total number of
votes each candidate has received. Any candidate who has received two-thirds
of the votes of those present is elected pope.
After the results are announced the third scrutineer threads the ballots
together with a needle, which he inserts through the word “eligo.”
He ties a knot at each end and turns the bundle of ballots and the scrutineers’
records over to the three revisers to be checked.
If all is in order the scrutineers, secretary of the conclave and masters
of ceremonies, who have been readmitted to the chapel, burn the ballots
and all notes taken by the scrutineers and cardinals in a special stove.
According to tradition, the cardinals signal the results of voting by
adding material to color smoke from the burning ballots, which appears
above the Sistine Chapel, black for no decision and white for a new pope.
This year, for the first time, they will accompany the white smoke with
ringing bells, to remove any doubt about the results.
The only remaining record of the voting is a document prepared at the
end of the election giving the results of each session. The document is
approved by the assisting cardinals, given to the new pope and then placed
in a sealed envelope in the archives to be opened only with papal permission.
Breaking an impasse
If the voting is inconclusive, the cardinals may continue to cast ballots
twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. If they still have not
elected a pope after three days, voting is suspended for a day of prayer,
informal discussion and a brief spiritual exhortation.
If the impasse continues, there are seven more votes, a suspension and
exhortation, followed by another seven votes, a suspension and another
exhortation and a final seven votes.
John Paul’s new rules provide that at this point, which is about
12 days after voting started, the requirement for a two-thirds majority
may be waived, and the pope may be chosen by an absolute majority. The
cardinals also have the option of limiting the candidates to the two who
received the largest number of votes in the last round.
The new pope
Once the election is decided, the cardinal dean asks the winner, “Do
you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?”
It has been many centuries since the answer was no; St. Philip Benizi,
for one, fled a conclave in 1271 and hid until another candidate was chosen.
St. Charles Borromeo declined in the 16th century and Cardinal Robert
Bellarmine declined in 1621.
When the candidate says “yes” he is ordained a bishop by the
cardinal dean, if not already a bishop, and immediately takes office.
The new pope is asked by what name he wants to be called. For the past
1,000 years, it has been the custom for the pope to change his name upon
being elected. The last to keep his own name was Marcellus II, elected
in 1555.
The cardinals make an act of homage and obedience to the new pope and
join in a prayer of thanksgiving.
A cardinal then steps out onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s
Square. He pronounces a Latin formula including the phrase, “Habemus
papam (We have a pope)” and announces the name the new pontiff has
taken. The pope appears and gives his first “urbi et orbi”
blessing to the city of Rome and the world.
The cardinals who will elect the next pope attend a solemn Mass, April
3, to mourn the death of Pope John Paul II.
RNS PHOTO/REUTERS/Tony Gentile
