THE conclave to elect the next pope will begin on 7 May, the Vatican announced on Monday afternoon.
The date was agreed at a meeting earlier that day of 180 of the Roman Catholic Church’s 252 cardinals, at the end of the Novendiales masses for the eternal repose of the late Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, aged 88. The cardinals, from more than 90 countries, began to gather in Rome last week in preparation for the papal funeral on Saturday.
Of the cardinals present in Rome, 135 are eligible to participate in the conclave, which is expected to last two to three days and is closed to the public. More than 100 of the voting cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis during his 12-year papacy. Cardinals above the age of 80 are not eligible to vote.
The conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel, which will remain closed to visitors during those days. Before it begins, the cardinal electors are to attend a solemn votive mass pro eligendo Romano Pontifice, before processing to the chapel.
Each cardinal elector then takes an oath to maintain absolute secrecy regarding everything related to the election of the pontiff and to refrain from supporting any attempts of external interference in the election. At this point, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations proclaims “Extra omnes!”, meaning that all individuals who are not part of the conclave must leave the Sistine Chapel. Only the Master and the ecclesiastic designated to deliver the second meditation remain.
This meditation, the Vatican reports, focuses on the responsibility of the electors and “the necessity of acting with pure intentions for the good of the Universal Church, keeping only God before their eyes. Once the meditation is delivered, both the ecclesiastic and the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations leave.”
Prayers are to be recited according to the Ordo Sacrorum Rituum Conclavis before the Cardinal Dean asks the cardinal electors whether they are ready to proceed with voting or whether any clarifications regarding the rules and procedures are required.
Throughout the election process, the cardinal electors must refrain from sending letters or engaging in conversations, including phone calls, except in cases of extreme urgency. Sending or receiving messages of any kind, including consuming newspapers and magazines, or radio or television broadcasts of any nature, are not permitted.
A two-thirds majority is required to elect the next pope. If the total number of electors is not evenly divisible by three, an additional vote is necessary. If voting begins on the afternoon of the first day, there will be only one ballot. On subsequent days, two ballots are held in the morning and two in the afternoon.
After the votes are counted, all ballots are burned. If the ballot is inconclusive, a chimney positioned over the Sistine Chapel emits black smoke. If a Pope is elected, the chimney will emit white smoke.
“If the electors fail to reach an agreement on a candidate after three days of inconclusive voting, a break of up to one day is allowed for prayer, free discussion among voters, and a brief spiritual exhortation by the Cardinal Proto-Deacon,” the Vatican reports.
Once the cardinals have elected a new pope, the last of the cardinal deacons calls the secretary of the College of Cardinals and the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations into the Sistine Chapel.
The Dean of the College, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, speaking on behalf of all the electors, then asks for the elected candidate’s consent with the following words: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?”
Upon receiving consent, he then asks: “What name do you wish to be called?”
The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations drafts a legal document of acceptance and records the chosen name, witnessed by two ceremonial officers. From this moment, the newly elected pope acquires full and supreme authority over the RC Church. The conclave ends immediately at this point.
The cardinal electors pledge obedience to the new pope, and the election and the name of the new pontiff is announced to the public with the words: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam.”
Immediately afterwards, the new pope gives the apostolic blessing urbi et orbi from the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica. After the solemn inauguration ceremony of the pontificate and within a “suitable” time, the new pope formally takes possession of the St John Lateran Basilica.
