THE ROMAN Catholic Church could have a new supreme pontiff as early as two days starting May 7, similar to how long it took to elect Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013.
In less than a week, 133 cardinal-electors under the age of 80 will vote in a conclave—one of the world’s oldest and most secretive electoral processes—to elect the 267th pope after the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
The 133 cardinal-electors, plus the two unable to attend, come from 71 countries. Of them, 53 are from Europe, 23 from Asia, 18 from Africa, 17 from South America, 16 from North America, and four each from Central America and Oceania.
Three of these cardinals are from the Philippines, the largest number of Filipino cardinal-electors in conclave history.
Here’s how the conclave will work—before, during, and after—according to James-Charles Noonan Jr.’s “The Church Visible: The Ceremonial Life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church.”
Sede vacante
With the See of Peter now vacant after the death of Pope Francis, the College of Cardinals begins conclave preparations with pre-conclave meetings known as the General Congregations.
All cardinals, including non-electors, will gather in Rome to discuss challenges facing the Church, including evangelization efforts and interfaith relations.
The camerlengo, or chamberlain of the Church, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will lead a smaller convention called the Particular Congregation to oversee Vatican affairs during the sede vacante period. Farrell was joined by three cardinal assistants who were chosen by drawing lots on April 28: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, and Cardinal Dominique Mamberti.
Mamberti is also the most senior cardinal deacon who will be tasked with introducing the new pope to the public.
The three members are rotated out every three days during the General Congregation.
On the first full session of the General Congregation, the cardinals must declare an oath prescribed by Pope Paul VI to pledge their absolute secrecy during the conclave.
Aside from the technical responsibilities of General Congregations, these pre-conclave meetings are an opportunity for cardinals to get acquainted with each other.
It is during this meeting that, according to some Vatican commentators, the then-Jose Mario Bergoglio, through a four-minute speech in 2013, was able to “win” his fellow cardinals’ votes.
His message called on the Church to “come out of herself and to go to the peripheries” of sin, suffering, and indifference.
Among the important figures in both pre-conclave and conclave is Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals. The dean is tasked to summon all cardinals and preside over the General Congregation, with the assistance of Vice Dean Cardinal Leonardo Sandri.
However, since Re and Sandri are over 80, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the next senior cardinal-bishop, will direct the events in their place. Parolin is now tasked with leading the cardinals in prayer and enforcing the rules of Universi Dominici Gregis, the apostolic constitution that governs the conclave.
The Sistine Chapel, where the conclave has been held for centuries, will be prepared to prevent calls, texts, internet access, and other audiovisual equipment from compromising the solemnity and secrecy of the conclave.
The chapel’s marble floors will be covered with a temporary wooden platform to raise the floor.
‘Extra Omnes’
The conclave opens with the Holy Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff at St. Peter’s Basilica. Vested in scarlet choir dress and simple rochet, the cardinal-electors then process to the Sistine Chapel to the solemn chant of “Veni Creator Spiritus.”
Once the cardinal-electors take their oath to the secrecy of the conclave, it’s time for the master of papal liturgical celebrations, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, to declare “Extra Omnes” or “everybody out.”
The doors of the Sistine Chapel are locked inside and outside, leaving the cardinal-electors fully sequestered as the voting begins.
Until a new pope is elected, cardinal-electors will vote in morning and afternoon sessions with two ballots in each session, or four a day. Two-thirds of the vote plus one will be needed to elect Pope Francis’s successor.
The cardinals will write on a piece of paper, inscribed with the words “Eligio in Summum Pontificem” (I elect as Supreme Pontiff), who they believe to be the Holy Spirit’s choice.
One by one in order of seniority, the cardinal-electors approach the altar under Michelangelo’s painting of the Last Judgment and declare: “I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I consider shall be elected.”
Then, they place their ballot on a gold paten, lift it, then drop the paper into a 25-inch-tall, jewel-encrusted golden receptacle or urn. He bows in reverence to the crucifix and gives way to the next cardinal.
Each session is overseen by three scrutineers, randomly selected to count the votes. They shake the urn to mix the ballots, and one by one, each scrutineer opens a ballot, notes the chosen name, and reads aloud the cardinal’s name. The third scrutineer marks the end of the counting process by threading a needle through each ballot.
Six more cardinals are randomly selected to serve as infirmarii for gathering the votes of the sick, and revisers to verify the results.
The burning of ballots after the end of each session should signal whether a new pope has already been chosen: Black smoke from the roof of the Sistine Chapel means the conclave continues, while white smoke signifies a new pope has been chosen. In recent times, a chemical is mixed to ensure that white smoke comes out in case a new pope is elected.
Habemus papam
As the white smoke billows from the roof of the Sistine Chapel, Farrell, Re, and Mamberti will now ask the pope-elect two questions: “Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?” and “By what name do you wish to be called?”
This period is now known as the Gloriosamente Regnante, the official end of the sede vacante with the reign of a new pope.
The new pope will then retire to the Room of Tears behind the Sistine Chapel to change into traditional papal robes. He will wear a white silk simar, white moire silk fascia, lace or linen rochet, and red mozzetta. Over the mozzetta, he wears a richly embroidered stole and a white zucchetto on his head.
Pope Francis famously declined to wear this traditional papal garment and instead wore a simple white cassock when he was announced as the new pope in 2013.
Mamberti, on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica facing St. Peter’s Square, will now announce habemus papam.
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus papam… Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum… (baptismal name) Sanctae Romanae Ecclesia Cardinalem (surname)… qui sibi nomen imposuit. (I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope! His Most Eminent and Reverend Lord, Lord (baptismal name)… Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church (surname), who has chosen for himself the name of (new papal name).
Shortly after, the 267th supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church will appear on the balcony to deliver his first apostolic blessing, known as the “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and to the World”).
