The papal conclave is a highly structured process in which the College of Cardinals elects a new pope for the Roman Catholic Church. This centuries-old tradition is carried out under secrecy. "Pope" is Latin for "papa," and is used as a nickname for the more formal "Bishop of Rome." Due to political interference during the first half of the church's history, the office often went vacant for years at a time while consensus on who would be pope was being reached. In other cases, groups elected different popes, or anti-popes. The papal conclave was developed to prevent political interference and ensure orderly succession. The Bible does not describe or endorse such a process, since the office of pope itself is not found in Scripture. In the Old Testament, God appointed leaders directly, raising up prophets, judges, and kings by His call and anointing (Exodus 3:10; 1 Samuel 16:12-13). In the New Testament, Christ is declared the true head of the church, not any earthly successor (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). The conclave may appear solemn and authoritative, but it does not reveal God’s choice of leader for His people. Instead, Scripture reminds us that Christ alone is the foundation and leader of His church (Matthew 16:18). Unlike the conclave’s vote-driven process, Christian faith rests in God’s divine appointment and the eternal reign of Jesus as Shepherd and King.
The papal conclave was developed over many centuries to limit the issues inherent in papal succession. In 1059, the electoral body was limited to the College of Cardinals, or the group of all cardinals in the church. This helped some, but in 1274, Pope Gregory X found it necessary to enact further restrictions. To prevent lengthy deadlocks, he decreed that the bishops would be under lock in a secluded conclave in the Sistine Chapel—"conclave" comes from the Latin cum clave, or "with key"—until they had agreed upon a successor. In 1970, Pope Paul VI restricted the electoral body to those under eighty years old. In addition, two-thirds of the conclave's vote is required to elect a new pope.
Current papal conclaves are regulated by Pope John Paul II's Universi Dominici Gregis. It covers the responsibilities of the College of Cardinals during the papal vacancy, the funeral arrangements of the deceased pope, a description of who is eligible to determine the next pope, and the procedures for doing so. Subsequent popes have made minor changes since the 2007 Universi Dominici Gregis. The Cardinals are housed in a dormitory-style building separate from the Sistine Chapel, and both the timing of the conclave and the procedures for the coronation of the new pope are more flexible. Additionally, any non-cardinal who reveals what has happened in the conclave may be excommunicated.
A papal conclave begins with security sweeps and a sermon on the Church’s needs. The cardinals celebrate the Eucharist, process to the Sistine Chapel, and take oaths of secrecy before outsiders are expelled. After procedural instructions, voting begins—one vote on the first day, then up to four daily, with days of prayer and dialogue if no result is reached. Ballots are sworn, cast, and burned, with smoke signaling the outcome. Once a candidate accepts, he chooses a papal name, dons vestments in the "Room of Tears," and is presented to the public at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The papacy is a lifetime appointment. The vast majority of popes die in their position. Pope Benedict XVI, who stepped down in 2013 due to poor health, was the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.
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