what is the meeting of cardinals to elect pope is called

How do Cardinals elect a Pope?

Conclave: How cardinals elect a Pope 1 Cardinals summoned to Rome. Popes are chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Church's most senior officials, who are appointed by the Pope and usually ordained bishops. 2 Voting rituals. ... 3 Reaching a decision. ... 4 New pope announced. ...

What is the election of a Pope?

The election of a pope is conducted in conditions of secrecy unique in the modern world. The cardinals are shut away in the Vatican until they reach agreement - the meaning of the word conclave indicating that they are literally locked up "with a key".

How were cardinals elected in the Middle Ages?

A major change came in 1059, when Pope Nicholas II decreed in In Nomine Domini that the cardinals were to elect a candidate to take office after receiving the assent of the clergy and laity. The cardinal bishops were to meet first and discuss the candidates before summoning the cardinal priests and cardinal deacons for the actual vote.

When was the last time a pope was elected outside Cardinals?

Pope Urban VI in 1378 became the last pope elected from outside the College of Cardinals. The last person elected as pope who was not already an ordained priest or deacon was the cardinal-deacon Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, elected as Pope Leo X in 1513.

What is the meeting of Cardinals to elect a new pope called?

conclaveconclave, (from Latin cum clave, “with a key”), in the Roman Catholic Church, the assembly of cardinals gathered to elect a new pope and the system of strict seclusion to which they submit.

What is a meeting of Cardinals called?

In the Roman Catholic Church a consistory is a formal meeting of the College of Cardinals called by the pope.

Where do Cardinals meet the pope?

the VaticanPopes are chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Church's most senior officials, who are appointed by the Pope and usually ordained bishops. They are summoned to a meeting at the Vatican which is followed by the Papal election - or Conclave. There are currently 203 cardinals from 69 countries.

What does a consistory mean?

councilDefinition of consistory 1 : a solemn assembly : council. 2 : a church tribunal or governing body: such as. a : a solemn meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals convoked and presided over by the pope.

Why did the cardinals vote in groups?

At some conclaves prior to 1621, the cardinals verbally voted and sometimes stood in groups to facilitate counting the votes cast. The signature and motif of the elector covered by two folded-over parts of the ballot paper was added by Gregory XV in 1621, to prevent anyone from casting the deciding vote for himself.

How many sermons do cardinals hear before the election?

The cardinals hear two sermons before the election: one before actually entering the conclave, and one once they are settled in the Sistine Chapel. In both cases, the sermons are meant to lay out the current state of the Church, and to suggest the qualities necessary for a pope to possess in that specific time.

How was the bishop of Rome chosen?

Since the Apostolic Age, the bishop of Rome, like other bishops, was chosen by the consensus of the clergy and laity of the diocese. The body of electors was more precisely defined when, in 1059, the College of Cardinals was designated the sole body of electors. Since then, other details of the process have developed.

What is the scrutiny phase of the election?

The scrutiny phase of the election is as follows: The cardinal electors proceed, in order of precedence, to take their completed ballots (which bear only the name of the individual voted for) to the altar, where the scrutineers stand. Before casting the ballot, each cardinal elector takes the following Latin oath:

How many times did the Pope call out his baptismal name?

The death of the pope is verified by the cardinal camerlengo, or chamberlain, who traditionally performed the task by calling out his baptismal (not papal) name three times in the presence of the master of papal liturgical celebrations, and of the cleric prelates, secretary and chancellor of the Apostolic Camera.

Which Council of the Lateran removed the requirement for obtaining the assent of the lower clergy and the laity?

The Second Council of the Lateran in 1139 removed the requirement for obtaining the assent of the lower clergy and the laity, while the Third Council of the Lateran in 1179 gave equal rights to the entire College of Cardinals when electing a new pope.

When was the papal selection process?

Main article: Papal selection before 1059. The procedures for the election of the pope developed over almost two millennia. Until the College of Cardinals was created in 1059, the bishops of Rome, like those in other areas, were elected by acclamation of the local clergy and people. Procedures similar to the present system were introduced in 1274 ...

What is the primary responsibility of the cardinals?

Their primary responsibility is to elect a new pope. Following a vacancy in the papacy, the cardinals hold a series of meetings at the Vatican called general congregations. They discuss the needs and the challenges facing the Catholic Church globally.

What happens when a pope dies?

When a pope dies or resigns, the governance of the CatholicChurch passes to the College of Cardinals. Cardinals are bishops and Vatican officials from all over the world, personally chosen by the pope, recognizeable by their distinctive red vestments. Their primary responsibility is to elect a new pope. Following a vacancy in the papacy, the ...

What happens if no one receives the necessary two-thirds of the vote?

If no one receives the necessary two-thirds of the vote, the ballots are burned in a stove near the chapel with a mixture of chemicals to produce black smoke. When a cardinal receives the necessary two-thirds vote, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him if he accepts his election.

Overview

Historical development

Modern practice

Relevant papal documents

See also

Direct citations