133 cardinals will participate In the private voting process – considered a conclave – with a majority of two thirds necessary to confirm a new Pope.
Here are ten surprising and interesting facts on papal conclaves.
The longest conclave lasted almost three years
There is no limit as to the duration of a conclave when the new pope is elected. A vote will take place on the first voting day. If this vote is not decisive, over the next two days, two votes will take place in the morning and two others in the afternoon.
If a decision has still not been made after three days, a break up to one day is authorized, allowing prayer and the discussion between the cardinals. But this process can continue indefinitely, until a majority is reached.
The longest election took place in 1268When the death of Pope Clément IV led to a 1,006 -day conclave. The political, religious and family motivations divided the cardinals, preventing a majority, at a time when the cardinals were not cut off from the outside world.
This written conclave led to complete insulation for the cardinals, Finally leading to a decision in 1271. Pope Gregory X was elected and a new format of the conclave was born.
Learn more:: Pope Francis, the “parish priest of the world” who led to a era of crisis, died at 88 years old
Cardinals will be on a strict diet to prevent secret messaging
In an attempt to influence the cardinals and establish a communication between the conclave and the outside world, Messages have already been hidden in food Entering the Sistine Chapel during the voting process.
Foods that could hide messages such as pies and chickens, as well as cutlery and glasses, have been prohibited. Following the tradition for the next conclave, the nuns will prepare local foods such as lamb skewers, spaghetti and boiled vegetables for cardinals.
Smoke will tell the world when a new pope has been chosen
After each turn of votes, all the ballots submitted by the cardinals are burned. If a majority has been reached and a new elected pope, the white smoke will rise from a fireplace at the top of the Sistine Chapel.
If a majority is not respected, the ballots will be added to a mixture of Potassium perchlorate, anthorane and sulfur To create black smoke.
A different recipe for potassium chlorate, lactose resin and chloroform will be added to the papers and burned to create white smoke if a pope has been elected.
May 2, Firefighters were seen to install the special fireplace In preparation for the conclave.
The conclave generally attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators in Rome
The Italian capital is expected to accommodate hundreds of thousands of visitors who will look forward to the chapel in the Sistine Chapel.
According to Forbes,, Flight research in Rome from the United States has increased by 345%The even higher rate of Mexico, with flight searches of 1000% between May 5 and 14.
“Conclave” comes from Latin
It was the three-year conclave of 1268-71 which led Pope Gregory X to adjust the conclaves in 1274, which makes the election of a new pope extremely secret and without external influence.
In 1274, Gregory X said that for future elections on a new popeThe cardinals must be locked in the isolation “Cum clave”, the Latin for “with a key”.
Without any political or personal interference, the cardinals could focus on their task of electing the next leader of the Catholic Church. Over the centuries, “Cum Clave” has become the modern term “conclave”.
The conclave has not always been held at the Sistine Chapel
Although each conclave has been held at the Sistine Chapel since 1878It was not always the fixed location so that the cardinals decide on the next pope.
The first conclave to be held at the Sistine Chapel took place in 1492. But the elections took place in various places before a fixed framework was decided. Most were still detained in Rome, but 15 have already taken place outside the Italian capital.
Becciu officially withdrew from the Papal conclave on April 29, saying that he would not participate “For the good of the church” And that he “obeyed … the will of the Pope Francis”. It comes after the cardinal was found guilty of accusations of diversion in December 2023. He maintains his innocence.
In 2020, Pope Francis ordered Becciu to leave his role as head of the Vatican Saints Manufacturing Office when the allegations were revealed. Becciu was also stripped of “his rights linked to the cardinal”.
Papal conclaves have inspired several books and films
Released in 2024, the film ConclaveBased on the 2016 novel of the same name, focuses on the fictitious death of a Pope and the subsequent electoral process. After the death of Pope Francis on April 21, The viewer increased by 283%.
Conclave received largely positive criticisms of religious experts for its largely precise representation of the electoral process, as well as won an Oscars for the best suitable scenario.
In the same way, The two popes—A film released in 2019, which documents the pontiff change of Pope Benedict XVI to Pope Francis –has seen a sharp increase in visualization of 417%.
