First discussions with white smoke, the stages of the conclave

Since 1996, it is the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregiswritten by Jean-Paul II, which details the conclave protocol. The cardinals must meet fifteen to twenty days after the death of the Sovereign Pontiff. Before the conclave, general congregations convened by the dean of the Cardinalice college – in this case, Mgr Giovanni Battista Re – bring together all the cardinals daily in the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

They make it possible to fix the date and conditions of the funeral of the deceased pontiff and then of the conclave, and to ensure the good government of the Church. It is also and above all the time for them to meet and get to know each other: most do not know each other. The first of these meetings was convened on April 22, the day after the death of Pope Francis.

The places of the conclave

The word “conclave” comes from Latin cum clavis“locked up”, in reference to the complete isolation in which the cardinals live during this period. They cannot use a phone or read the press or write to anyone. The rule is that of the most absolute secrecy. The cardinals take an oath several times to stick to it, at the beginning of the general congregations and before the election processes begin.

If the ballot towers all take place in the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals sleep and can withdraw into the individual rooms attributed to them at the Sainte-Marthe house, where François lived.

Election time

The conclave alternates moments of prayer (individual or community) to request the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, voting times and periods of personal reflection in a climate of meditation. It begins with a mass entitled Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice (“For the election of the Roman pontiff”) in order to invoke the Holy Spirit and to ask for its lighting in the choice of the new Pope. The cardinals then go to procession to the Sistine Chapel. After the mass, one of them offers meditation on the responsibility which is the responsibility of them in this duty. It is a time of spiritual preparation before the start of the polls.

The time of vote then begins with a single ballot during this first day. Each cardinal puts his bulletin back in an urn, by formulating: “I take witness to the Christ Lord, who will judge me, that I give my voice to that which, according to God, I think I should be elected.”

A majority of two thirds must emerge to elect a pontiff. If it is not reached, a new voting session is organized the next day, up to two elections in the morning and two in the afternoon every day that the conclave lasts. At the end of each ballot, the bulletins are burned. The black smoke which escapes from the chimney indicates to the faithful that no pope has been elected. When the majority of two thirds is reached, a white product is added to the bulletins, creating the famous white smoke announcing the long -awaited election.

What if there is no majority?

If no name has been retained after four days, the cardinals take a day of prayer, meditation and exchanges to clarify their discernment. Seven new elections can then take place. This session is repeatable only twice.

In the Universi Dominici Gregissa Apostolic Constitution, John Paul II had opened the possibility of electing the sovereign pontiff by an absolute majority (50% + 1 votes) after a certain number of unsuccessful elections. But this option was closed in 2013 by a Motu owner of Benoît XVI, who returned to the requirement of the qualified majority.

In the event of an impasse, the election is between the two names having retained the greatest number of votes during the last ballot. A conclave should therefore not exceed a fortnight.

White smoke

Once the new pope has been designated, the dean of the cardinals asked him if he agrees to assume this charge.

The oldest cardinal in office – in this case French Dominique Mamberti – will then go to the central balcony of the basilica to announce the famous “Habemus papam” (“We have a pope”). This is the end of vacant sede (vacant seat).