Inside conclave as cardinals locked in Sistine Chapel to elect new Pope
The Vatican is buzzing with suspense and intrigue today - not for a Hollywood blockbuster, but for the secretive conclave that's set to elect the new Pope. This clandestine democratic process, whose name comes from the Latin 'cum clave', or 'with key', is steeped in mystery and history. The man who will emerge in white will be one of the world's most influential leaders, seen as the successor of St Peter, the first apostle, and leader of 1.4 billion Catholics. Following the death of Pope Francis 15 days ago, cardinals from across the globe, known as the 'princes of the church', have been gradually gathering in Rome. By Monday, all 133 cardinals under 80, eligible to vote for Francis' successor, had arrived at the Vatican, indicating that the secret conclave can commence, reports the Mirror. Today, these men, dressed in scarlet, will move from their accommodations in the Vatican's St Martha's House to the Sistine Chapel. Both locations have already been swept for electronic bugs, jamming devices installed, and windows coated to prevent laser scanners from picking up any sound.
An Irish priest holds an Irish newspaper displaying photos of Cardinals who could become the next Pope outside the Vatican
(Image: Getty Images)
The cardinals' sleeping quarters have been allocated by lottery, windows have been blacked out and even the menu is limited - foods that could potentially hide messages, such as pies or chicken, are strictly off-limits. All clerics surrender their phones and take a vow of secrecy, along with all staff members including cooks, housekeepers and doctors. A chilling clause states that anyone who leaks details of the conclave will be automatically excommunicated from the church for good. Cardinals are also required to avoid newspapers, radio, television and the internet. The formal conclave commences with a shout of 'Extra omnes' – or 'Everybody out' – a command for non-voters to clear the area. There's no room for speeches or debate within the chapel, just silent votes, with the first expected to occur this afternoon. From the second day of the conclave, the cardinals vote four times daily - twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon - incinerating their ballot papers after every second vote, until they achieve a two-thirds majority. Each cleric is given a desk, where he writes his choice on a ballot paper inscribed with the words 'Eligo in summum pontificem' - 'I elect as Supreme Pontiff' - ideally in distorted handwriting to conceal their identity. They then fold the paper in half and, in order of seniority, walk to the altar and place it in a bronze urn. Two metal stoves have already been installed inside the 15th-century chapel, connected by a long metal flue to the chimney on the roof. Every joint is meticulously tested, as even the smallest mistake could damage one of the world's most renowned ceilings, adorned with Michelangelo's frescoes.
An infographic titled "Papal selection process (Conclave)"
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
One stove is used for burning ballot papers while the other emits coloured smoke - black indicating no agreement has been reached yet, and white announcing the selection of the next pontiff. However, the duration of the process remains uncertain. The longest conclave in history spanned two years and nine months, from the death of Clement IV in November 1268 until the election of Pope Gregory X in September 1271. Cardinals had gathered in the city of Viterbo, the then-papal base, but locals, who were footing their bills, became so frustrated with the slow deliberations that they started limiting their rations to just bread and water. When this didn't speed things up, they tore off the roof of the papal palace, exposing them to the elements. By the end of the marathon conclave, three out of the 20 cardinals had passed away and one had resigned. This farcical conclave led to the tradition of sequestering cardinals until a decision is made, with Gregory X introducing new rules as soon as he was elected. Modern conclaves tend to wrap up much quicker, with the longest in recent history being in 1922, when it took five days and 14 rounds of voting to elect Pius XI. The conclave that elected the late Pope Francis 12 years ago was over in just two days.
White smoke is seen from the roof of the Sistine Chapel
(Image: Getty Images)
This week's conclave is also expected to be less eventful - or controversial - than some in the past. During an early conclave in 236, a dove landed on the head of a priest named Fabian, which cardinals interpreted as a divine sign and promptly elected him pope. In 1492, one of the cardinals, a powerful and wealthy man named Rodrigo Borgia who had fathered several children with various mistresses, offered his colleagues lucrative positions in exchange for their votes and was subsequently elected Alexander VI. The only recorded case of an injury at a conclave was in 1605 when a brawl broke out between cardinals who couldn't agree on who to vote for, resulting in elderly Cardinal Visconti suffering several broken bones. Eventually, Pope Paul V was elected. And in the conclave of 1655, a group of young cardinals, bored with the weeks-long deadlock, decided to play a prank on their older colleagues. One dressed up as the Holy Ghost and surprised the older members of the college in the middle of the night, leading to an elderly colleague dying of pneumonia after falling from his bed onto a cold floor in fright. However, even after the cardinals have made their choice, other challenges may still present themselves. Not every successful candidate has desired the role. In 1978, it's said that Cardinal Albino Luciani muttered 'No, oh please, no' upon his election. The 65 year old reluctantly accepted but tragically suffered a fatal heart attack just 33 days later. In fact, nine popes have survived less than a month after being chosen, with Urban VII having the shortest reign of just 13 days. The enormity of the task has led many to tears, hence the room where the new pope changes into the white vestments of the papacy is known as the Stanza delle Lacrime, or Room of Tears. Vatican officials prepare gowns of various sizes to fit any of the 133 cardinals who could potentially become pontiff. The newly elected pope is then asked what name he wishes to be known by – a tradition dating back to the sixth century when a priest named Mercury, upon being elected pope, felt his name was too pagan and changed it to John II. Finally, the new pope is taken to the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square, where the senior cardinal will announce 'Habemus papam' - 'We have a pope". The 267th pope will then deliver his first blessing, watched by thousands in the square and millions around the globe. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
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