Inside the Conclave

Electing a Pope

Since the eleventh century, a pope’s election has occurred through a secret process known as a conclave. Within fifteen days of the death or resignation of a pope, the cardinals gather in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to discuss and elect a successor to Saint Peter.

Here are some interesting facts about the current papal succession:

• On February 11, 2013 Pope Benedict XVI declared his formal resignation from the papacy to take effect on Thursday, February 28, 2013 8:00 pm (Rome time). The last papal resignation prior to Benedict XVI’s was Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
• The period of papal transition is referred to as sede vacante meaning “vacant see” in Latin. This is the period of time that the diocese of Rome is without a bishop. During this time the Universal Church is governed by the College of Cardinals who meet in General Congregations. These meetings are presided by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. The current Dean of the College of Cardinals is Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
• Only cardinals under the age of 80 at the time of the pope’s death are eligible to vote in papal elections. They are called “cardinal electors” and are limited to 120. The Conclave takes place in the Sistine Chapel. There must be a 2/3 majority to elect the next pope.
• When placing his vote, each cardinal elector stands before the altar in the Sistine Chapel and declares aloud “I call as my witness Christ the Lord, who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one whom, before God, I think should be elected.”

Most important, however, the cardinals collectively pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who inspires their election of a new pope.

Free From RCL Benziger

RCL Benziger’s Activity, Church Leaders (appropriate for students in grade 5 and above).
Prayer for the retirement of Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus

The Election of a Pope from Be My Disciples on Vimeo.

A simple presentation for those students in Grades K-4

Check Out

Invite your students or children to check out the Vatican’s virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel where the cardinals are meeting for the Conclave. Still photos are available here.

From the Vatican you can also learn more about each of the cardinal electors here.

The USCCB is providing detailed educational images and information on:

• electing a pope
• the process of the conclave
• the cardinal electors from the United States
• a Q&A on the papal transition.
• liturgical resources for the papal transition

From La Stampa’s “Vatican Insider,” an interactive graphic slideshow on how a pope is elected is made available.