Analysis: The history and significance of the Papal Conclave: From Medieval Origins to the 2025 Election

By Burnett Munthali

The process of electing a new Pope, known as the Conclave, is one of the oldest and most solemn traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.

The term “Conclave” is derived from the Latin words cum (with) and clavis (key), denoting both the physical space where cardinals gather and the locked-in nature of their task.

It represents the secluded and sacred environment in which cardinals meet to elect the new Bishop of Rome, free from external influence and guided by spiritual discernment.

The modern form of the Conclave was formally established in 1274 by Pope Gregory X through the Constitution Ubi periculum.

This was after his own election in Viterbo, which infamously lasted nearly three years—from 1268 to 1271—making it the longest papal election in Church history.

During that time, 18 cardinals were unable to reach consensus, prompting the local citizens to lock them in the palace and wall up the doors, in frustration over the prolonged indecision.

Eventually, the cardinals elected Teobaldo Visconti, who was not a cardinal or even a priest, and who became Pope Gregory X.

Realizing the need to prevent such delays in the future, Pope Gregory X instituted the Conclave system to ensure both seclusion and focus among the electors.

The first official Conclave under these new rules was held in Arezzo, Tuscany, in 1276, resulting in the election of Pope Innocent V.

Before these reforms, papal elections involved more of the Church community, with the clergy evaluating candidates proposed by the faithful and bishops making the final decision.

Political powers, however, often interfered, hindering the integrity and pace of the election process.

The introduction of the two-thirds majority requirement by Pope Alexander III in 1179—via the Constitution Licet de vitanda—was another critical development that remains in place today.

In 1059, Pope Nicholas II had already begun to limit voting rights exclusively to cardinals with his Bull In nomine Domini, setting a precedent for centralized ecclesiastical authority.

In 1621, Pope Gregory XV refined the Conclave process further by mandating secret and written ballots.

Pope Pius X in 1904 eliminated the controversial right of exclusion, which had allowed certain monarchs to veto candidates, and reinforced confidentiality for all Conclave proceedings.

The 20th century brought additional structural reforms to the process.

In 1945, Pope Pius XII issued the Apostolic Constitution Vacantis Apostolicae Sedis, outlining that once the Holy See becomes vacant, all cardinals must cease their normal functions except the Camerlengo, the Major Penitentiary, and the Vicar of Rome.

Pope St. Paul VI later added that only cardinals under the age of 80 could participate in the voting, through his Motu proprio Ingravescentem Aetatem.

The Sistine Chapel is now the iconic venue for papal elections, but this has not always been the case.

While the first Conclave held in the Sistine Chapel occurred in 1492, it was only from 1878 onward that it became the consistent setting for every papal election.

Prior to that, Conclaves took place in a variety of locations, mostly in Rome, though 15 were held elsewhere, including in France and Germany.

For example, the Conclave of 1314-16 occurred in France, and the one from 1415-17 was held in Germany—demonstrating the historically transnational nature of the Church’s leadership transitions.

Pope St. John Paul II later cemented the Sistine Chapel’s role in his Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, referring to it as the “Via Pulchritudinis,” or “Way of Beauty.”

This decision highlighted not only the spiritual solemnity but also the symbolic grandeur of the chapel adorned with Michelangelo’s Last Judgment.

The duration of Conclaves has varied dramatically across centuries.

The longest remains the one that led to the election of Gregory X, which spanned over two years.

On the other hand, the shortest Conclave was in 1503, lasting only a few hours before electing Pope Julius II.

More recently, Pope Francis was elected swiftly in March 2013, after only five rounds of voting over two days.

Typically, once white smoke emerges from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, signaling a successful election, the new Pope appears on the balcony within an hour to greet the faithful in St. Peter’s Square.

Although it has become customary for the elected Pope to be a cardinal, this is not a canonical requirement.

The last Pope who was not a cardinal at the time of election was Urban VI in 1378.

The upcoming Conclave scheduled for May 7, 2025, will be the 76th in the form established in the 13th century and the 26th held under Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel.

It is a reminder of both the continuity and adaptability of this sacred tradition that has endured for nearly eight centuries.

As the Catholic world prepares to welcome its 267th Pontiff, the centuries-old rituals and rules of the Conclave remain deeply rooted in history yet relevant in our contemporary age.