Conclave: How Does it Work?

When the St. Peter’s Throne is vacant (Sede Vacante)by two means-  by death or by resignation, the College of Cardinals is entrusted an extraordinary task to pick the next man who will occupy the vacant seat. According to Universi Dominici Regis, a governing statue for Papal Election, the election must commence fifteen (15) days after the Petrine office is emptied. But Pope emeritus Benedict XVI made an amendment to this provision. Instead of the fifteen day interval, the date of the Conclave must begin depending on the attendance of the cardinal electors.

Before the set date of the Conclave, the Cardinals meet for general congregation meetings. Their meetings comprise of Ecclesiastical matters and issues such as Year of Faith, New Evangelization, Vatileaks scandals, Women’s role in the Church, Diplomatic relations of the Holy See and even the characteristics of the next leader of 1.2 Billion Catholics. Each cardinal may intervene and insert discussions pertinent to the Church’s existence. At this point, Cardinals are bound to keep the meeting’s topics secret.

On the first day of the Conclave, the College of Cardinals (headed by its Dean, now Angelo Cardinal Sodano )  will hold a mass offered for the Election of a Supreme Pontiff. After this, they now retreat to Casa Santa Martha –the Official residence of Cardinal electors during a Conclave. To start the conclave they conduct a procession from the Pauline chapel of the Apostolic Place to their proper venue – Sistine chapel. As they enter to their election precinct, they recite a Liturgy of Saints. Once inside, they place their palm on the Gospel and take an oath to secrecy. This is done as they face the Michelangelo’s Last Judgment painting.  

When the vespers and other related ceremonies are finished, the Dean then announces the start of the conclave. The Master of Ceremonies then declares extra omnes meaning “Everybody out!” Of course this is not addressed to the College of Cardinals, this are for non-cardinals who have nothing to do with the election but present inside the Sistine.

The first day, by tradition, has only 1 round of election. When the cardinal electors reach a 2/3 vote for the Supreme Pontiff, they will burn the Election papers to create a white smoke. The vote is written in a small paper, alteration of handwriting is encouraged. They then cast their votes in a ballot according to seniority. Usually, the first voting reaches no consensus so the smoke in Sistine’s chimney is black. For succeeding days they will have 4 rounds each day until a Pope is elected. The ash is not a divine miracle. The Vatican uses a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulphur for black smoke while potassium chlorate, lactose and rosin.          

The Conclave is a unique election running through centuries. It is much like Monarch elected by his peers, a monarch who is more of a shepherd than a king. How the Cardinals decide on voting depends on their conscience and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.