As the Vatican prepares to elect its new spiritual leader, a drama unfolds in the conclave. With centuries of secrecy and intrigue surrounding the papal election process, will Christian morality prevail?
The Vatican is set to elect its new spiritual leader in early May, following the passing of Pope Francis. Cardinals from around the world will join in closed-door deliberations at the Sistine Chapel to cast their vote for the worldwide head of the Catholic Church.
Papal succession refers to the process by which a new Pope is elected to succeed the deceased or resigned incumbent.
The College of Cardinals, composed of senior bishops from around the world, gathers in conclave to select a new leader.
According to Catholic tradition, the next Pope must be at least 35 years old and a bishop.
The process typically begins with a period of mourning for the deceased Pope, followed by a formal announcement of the election.
The new Pope is then introduced to the public and assumes his role as spiritual leader of the global Catholic Church.
The Secrecy and Intrigue of the Conclave
The conclave is a secretive process that aims to divine God’s representative on earth. With the cardinals sworn to silence, the pontiff alone can speak publicly on the backroom plotting behind the papal pick. This secrecy has led to speculation, political intrigue, and artistic interpretation across the centuries.
A conclave is a meeting of high-ranking Catholic cardinals to elect a new Pope.
The term 'conclave' originates from the Latin word 'clausum', meaning 'locked up.'
Historically, conclaves were held in secret, with participants isolated from the outside world to ensure impartial voting.
Today, conclaves are still conducted in a similar manner, with cardinals residing in the Sistine Chapel during the election process.
The conclave is overseen by the College of Cardinals and typically lasts several days until a new Pope is elected.
The Art of Conclave: A Story of Power Plays
British author Robert Harris was inspired by the potential power plays driving these papal ballots and decided to bring the enigmatic process to life in his hit 2016 novel, ‘Conclave.’ The book focuses on the dean of the College of Cardinals that chooses the pontiff, and his role in the backroom dealings, hidden agendas, and leaks preceding a final two-thirds majority vote for a surprise candidate.
A Perfect Story?
Harris described his inspiration for the novel as ‘almost a perfect story‘ and was surprised no one had done it before. The book takes place over 72 hours of the conclave, capturing the meticulously planned rituals that unfold as votes are taken and retaken before being burned. Harris also drew attention to the sacred ceremony to select the spiritual leader for some 1.3 billion people, which can be ‘equally profane‘ as opposing factions push their case.
A conclave is a secret meeting of cardinals in the Catholic Church, convened to elect a new pope when the previous one passes away or resigns.
The process begins with the death or resignation of the pope, triggering a 15-20 day waiting period before the conclave can start.
During this time, cardinals from around the world gather in Rome and take an oath of secrecy.
Once convened, the cardinals elect a new pope through a series of ballots, typically held twice a day.
A two-thirds majority is required for election, with the winner being announced publicly.
The Film Adaptation
The book’s success was followed by a film adaptation in 2024, starring Ralph Fiennes as the dean of the College of Cardinals and Isabella Rossellini playing a venerable sister who must also help decide. The film won an Academy Award less than two months before Pope Francis‘ death and has helped turn the conclave into a pop-culture phenomenon.
Criticism of the Film
However, the film’s depiction of the conclave has also drawn criticism from some quarters. The independent Catholic publication Missio Dei called out the film’s ‘misrepresentation of the papal election process,’ stating that it dramatizes internal conflicts and depicts the church as politically motivated. Some have also criticized the film for perpetuating negative stereotypes about church leaders.
A Hope for Christian Morality
Despite the criticism, Robert Harris has expressed his respect for the papal election ritual. He hopes that Christian morality will win out in the coming conclave, which is set to consider a first-ever African pontiff. Harris believes that the purpose of the church is to stand for certain eternal values, Christian values, which are not necessarily the same as those of other public figures.
