A Pope is Dead
Mourning
College Cardinals
Timing Election
Methods Election
The Conclave
Secrecy
Ballot Logistics
The Papabile
Cardinal Attire
Pope is Elected
Vesting the Pope
Introduction
Coronation
How a Pope Is Elected
- This document shows how the Church, in times past, elected
a new Pope after the death of the pope. It was written prior to the
bogus Vatican II council and it presents the procedures and traditions
used up to that time to conduct the election. We present it here,
not to suggest that “The Conclave of 1998” must follow each step exactly
… that would be impossible since the true Catholic Church no longer occupies
the Vatican, since there are no Cardinals left, and since “The Conclave
of 1998” will be conducted using natural law with the Remnant Church serving
as Electors. Wherever possible, we would hope to follow the spirit
of the traditions established by the Church with regard to the conclave,
the election and the new Pope. When the new Pope is elected, we would
expect him to establish procedures for future conclaves.
The Pope is Dead
In the bedroom of his apartment in the Vatican Palace in Rome, the Pope has just died. Standing by his bedside is the Cardinal Camerlengo, the Cardinal appointed by the Pope to direct the affairs of the Church until a new Pope is elected. In the presence of the Camerlengo and other officials of the Papal Court, the white veil which covers the face of the dead Pope is removed, and prayers are said for the repose of his soul. Then an official reads the rogito, or solemn announcement of his death. The “Ring of the Fisherman,” which the Pope had received upon his election, is entrusted to the Camerlengo, who will take it to the first meeting of Cardinals when it is broken into pieces.When a Pope has died, the Church has lost its supreme head. The
Congregations which deal with the affairs of the Church no longer have
any authority. There is no longer any office of Papal Secretary of
State, and until the election of a new Pope there can be no move in diplomatic
relations involving the Holy See, no matter how important or how advanced
they may be. Even if a General Council of the Church is in session,
it is automatically suspended and can only meet one more if the new Pope
gives his approval.
Mourning
The Church throughout the world goes into mourning, and many of its buildings are draped in black, like a widow morning a husband, or children mourning a father; and the sorrow is shared by all men of goodwill throughout the world.
The College of Cardinals
Now, no structure as great or as important as the Catholic Church can remain for long without a Supreme Authority, and it becomes the duty of the College of Cardinals, who has already assumed the responsibilities of the government of the Church, to elect a new Pope. They begin to arrive in Rome as soon as they have heard of the Pope’s death. For some days the body of the dead Pope, clothed in red vestments and with a golden mitre upon the head, is exposed for the veneration and prayers of the faithful, in St. Peter’s basilica. After the lying-in-state, the body is placed in a triple coffin, a purse containing the coins and medals of his pontificate is put at his feet, the absolutions are pronounced, and the coffin is taken for burial in the crypt of the basilica. Then there follows the Novemdialis – the 9-day period of official mourning, with a solemn Mass each day in St. Peter’s.Sorrow over the death of the Pope is universal and sincere, but the
Church must continue its God-given task, and a new Pope must be elected
without delay. Therefore, as soon as the Novemdialis is over, the
Cardinals must turn to the task of the election. The machinery of
administering the Church, usually very slow and deliberate, is now seen
to be moving very fast indeed.
Timing of the Election
At one time, the papal election had to be commenced within 10 days after the death of the Pope, but the time has now been extended so that the election must begin not less than 15 days, and not later than 18 days, after the Pope’s death. In this way every Cardinal, no matter how far away he may be, may take part in the election. In fact, under his vow of obedience, he must do so, unless he is prevented by grave illness. From all over the world, then, by land, by sea, by air, the Cardinals hasten to Rome. On their journey they are bound to secrecy. They must not discuss the election with anyone, they must give no interviews, they must not offer any opinion upon any candidate. The Pope must be elected upon merit alone.
Methods of Electing
There are 3 ways of election a Pope:- by inspiration or acclamation, when the Cardinals are unanimous in the choice and cry his name aloud;
- by compromise, when all agree to accept the decision of a group of 3, 5 or 7, who have been unanimously chosen to represent the others;
- by ballot, which is the normal procedure.
Nowadays a Pope is usually elected by ballot and, to be elected, a candidate
must obtain two-thirds (2/3) of all possible votes, unless the number of
Cardinals cannot be divided into 3 equal parts, in which case the successful
candidate must receive 2/3 plus one of all the votes.
The Conclave
All those Cardinals who have arrived within the time-limit of 18 days will take part in what is called a “conclave” for the election. Conclave means “under lock and key,” from the Latin words cum clavi, with a key. This means that until they have reached a decision, the Cardinals are locked away from the outside world. Once upon a time, when a decision was slow in coming, the Cardinals’ food was reduced in quantity and quality as a means of inducing them to come to an agreement. Once inside the conclave, the Cardinals stay there, unless there is a very grave reason, such as an urgent need for a surgical operation.During the time which has elapsed between the death of the Pope and
the opening day of the conclave, an army of workmen has been busy inside
a wing of the Vatican Palace itself. Every Cardinal must have a cell
in which he will live for the time before a decision is reached.
He will be allowed to take one attendant with him to the conclave.
Secrecy of Conclave
The conclave itself must be absolutely secret. To ensure this, all entrances to the area of the Vatican where the Cardinals will stay are sealed off, and any windows facing the outside world are covered with whitewash. The only entrance from outside is at a wicket-gate, watched by 5 officials, whose duty it is to check everything that passes through, even the food which the Cardinals and their attendants will eat. Only with the permission of the senior official, who is called the Marshal of the Conclave, is a message allowed to pass, and anything debatable will even then be refused.
Balloting Logistics
The actual balloting takes place in the Sistine Chapel. There, as many thrones as there are Cardinals have been set up. Each throne is covered in violet cloth and has a violet canopy. In front of each throne there stands a small square table covered also in violet; upon this table the Cardinal will mark his record of the voting, as the names are called out. On the altar will have been placed the paraphernalia for voting which is kept for the election of a Pope: a supply of ballot forms; a large chalice, used as an urn for the votes; a paten on to which the votes are poured out for counting; a silver box, in which the votes are deposited; and a box which will be carried to the cell of any Cardinal who is too ill or infirm to leave his cell. In this box he will place his vote.At the other end of the chapel a small stove is set up, with a pipe leading from it directly to the roof. In this stove the ballot papers are burned and the assembled crowds, thronging St. Peter’s Square in the thousands, watch tensely as the smoke rises into the air. If no candidate receives the necessary 2/3 of the votes, then the ballot is unsuccessful. The ballot papers are put on one side, and a second ballot takes place immediately. If this too is unsuccessful, both sets of ballot papers are gathered together, wet straw is mixed with them, and they are burned in the stove, so that the smoke shows black against the sky. When, however, the necessary 2/3 of the votes have been obtained, the voting-papers alone are burned, and the smoke is now white.
The ballot papers bear the words:
| Eligo in summum Pontificem Rev. mum D. Meum D. Card … | I elect as Supreme Pontiff my Lord Cardinal … |
When all the votes have been cast, and any sick Cardinals have put theirs into the ebony box which is carried to them by 3 of their number, the papers are poured out onto the paten, while 3 other Cardinals, chosen by lot, act as scrutineers. One opens the paper, reads it, and passes it to the second, who also reads it before passing it to the third, who reads the name aloud. If no candidate receives the 2/3 of the votes that are needed, then all immediately vote again, and each Cardinal may now, if he so chooses, vote for a different candidate. If this second ballot is also unsuccessful, then the papers are mixed with wet straw and burned. There are 4 ballotings each day, 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, and the process of burning the ballots is therefore repeated twice each day, to give the “black” smoke, until finally a Pope is elected.
While the outcome of each ballot is being announced, each Cardinal will take note of the results. These notes, and any other notes relating to the balloting, are not burned but are gathered together an placed in sealed envelopes; the envelopes may not be opened without the express permission of the reigning Pope, who may allow historians in the centuries to come to study them.
Once locked away inside the conclave, the Cardinals of course are able
to discuss freely among themselves the various “papabiles” or likely candidates,
to advance the abilities and suitability of their choice, and to attempt
to sway individuals or groups to vote with them.
Who is Pababile?
By tradition the Pope is elected from among the Cardinals, but by tradition only. It lies within the power of the College of Cardinals to elect anybody: an unknown, humble priest, a layman, even a married man if they so wish, to become the Supreme Pontiff. It was in 1059 that a Council, called by Nicholas II, declared: “If there is to be found in the Roman Church a subject fitted to govern it, let him be of the clergy; otherwise application should be made to another church.” A Pope, then, may be chosen from outside the Dioceses of Rome, and a layman may be elected, as long as he caused to be conferred upon himself all the necessary ordinations after his election. In point of fact, since the decree of 1059, no layman has been elected Pope, and since the time of Urban VI, 1378, who when elected, was Archbishop of Bari, and not a Cardinal, all the Popes have been chosen from the College of Cardinals.
Cardinals Attire
During the conclave the Cardinals wear a woolen robe, still in the violet or purple of mourning, sleeveless and with a long train. Over this they may wear a coat, also violet, for warmth. Their mantellettas, the distinguishing mark of their rank, they will have removed as soon as the news of the Pope’s death reached them. What happens during the conclave can but be guessed, for everyone inside, Cardinals attendants, servants, are sworn to secrecy.
A Pope is Elected
When at last the balloting has proved successful, the violet canopies over the thrones are lowered, leaving only that of the Cardinal who has been elected. Then the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who is the senior of the Cardinal Bishops, presents himself before the throne of the Cardinal who has been elected, as asks him whether he will accept election. If he does accept, in that moment he becomes Pope, with the full authority of the Vicar of Christ. The Cardinal Dean then asks him the name by which he would wish to be called.
Vesting the New Pope
Escorted by 2 Cardinals, the new Pope enters the sacristy where 3 sets of robes, one large, one medium and one small, are waiting. He dresses in the white cassock, white stockings, and puts on the red slippers, each embroidered with a golden cross. Returning to the throne he is adorned in the vestments of his office and in turn all the Cardinals, in order of seniority, advance to kiss his hand and to kneel before him. After this the Cardinal Dean places upon his finger the Ring of the Fisherman, which the Pope then removes so that his name may be engraved upon it. This ring is not again worn by the Pope; it is a seal-ring, used at one time to seal important documents, and is now purely symbolic.
Introduction of the New Pope
Outside the Vatican, in the great square of St. Peter’s, the faithful gathered in the thousands are waiting. They know that a Pope has been elected. Nowadays the Vatican Radio will broadcast the news in many languages, and while lifting their voices in a Te Deum they watch the balcony expectantly. At last the windows open and the senior Cardinal Deacon appears. It is he who will announce to the City and the world the name of the new Pope.The announcement is in this form:
| Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam.
Eminentissimus et Reverendissimus Dominus, Dominus ___ Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalis Qui sibi accipit nomen ___ |
I announce to you a great joy. We have a Pope.
The most eminent and reverend Lord, the Lord ___
Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Who takes to himself the name __ |
Papal Coronation & First Papal Mass
A few days later, the basilica of St. Peter’s is thronged when the new Pope enters it to sing his first papal Mass at the altar over the tomb of St. Peter. As the procession moves towards the altar, it is halted 3 times. At each halt, a piece of tow is set on fire; it dies away; meanwhile the Pope hears the words, “Pater sancte, sic transit gloria mundi” – Holy Father this is how the glory of the world passes away; for in the midst of the pomp and splendour of his crowning, the Pope is reminded that he is but a mortal man.At the end of the papal Mass, the crowds gather once more in St. Peter’s
Square, and watch, while in full view of all of them, the great triple
tiara, the crown of the Supreme Pontiff, the Holy Father of the Church,
is slowly and solemnly placed upon the head of the Pope. Once more,
there is the blessing and the square resounds with a roar of “Viva il Papa!”
“Long live the Pope” and the Pope, on the Sedia Gestatoria, the portable
throne, is born away to the Vatican.
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