ANNUNTIO VOBIS GAUDIUM MAGNUM! HABEMUS PAPAM! “I announce to you a great joy! We have a pope!

Pope Latin for “papa”. The Bishop of Rome – Originally, whoever was the Bishop of Rome was considered to be the chief official of the Catholic Church. Papacy – The office of the pope. Holy See – Ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

Pope 1870 – Dogma of Papal Infallibility – The pope speaks “ex-cathedra” – from the chair of Peter – this is a formal definition of faith and morals. The earliest records indicate the use of the word “pope” in the east for all bishops and senior clerics. From the 3 rd century on it was used to refer only to bishops. In the late 11 th century, Pope Gregory VII issued a declaration stating this use in the western tradition.

Pope According to Canon Law “If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation be made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.” Interregnum – the period from the death (resignation) of the pope until the next pope is elected.

The Election of the Pope For 900 years, electing the pope has been the responsibility of the College of Cardinals. The Cardinals gather for the conclave approximately days after the papacy is vacant. Cardinals: Cardinal Priests/Cardinal Deacons/Cardinal Bishops

Electing the Pope The Cardinal electors (under the age of 80) gather in the Vatican. On the day that the conclave is to begin, they meet for the opening Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Mass is usually said by the Dean of the College of Cardinals.

Electing the Pope After the Mass, the Cardinal electors then process to the Sistine Chapel. The doors to the Sistine Chapel are locked and no one can leave or enter. Cardinal electors now comfortably stay at a “hotel” on the Vatican grounds. Prior to the building of the “hotel” by Pope John Paul II, the cardinals lived in very austere surroundings in the area of the Sistine Chapel.

Electing the Pope No contact can me made with the “outside” world. No Cardinal Elector can divulge any information concerning the conclave. Candidates should not “politic” for the Papacy. Normally two ballots are taken in the morning and two ballots are taken in the afternoon. If there is no 2/3 majority, the ballots are put together and burned. Chemicals are added for black smoke.

Electing a Pope If after 3 days of voting a Pope is not elected, the Cardinal Electors will take off at least one day for prayer and conversations. When the voting resumes, if after balloting no cardinal receives a 2/3 majority, the Cardinal Electors take the top two candidates and ask for a majority vote. After this, a new pope is chosen.

Electing a Pope The new pope is asked if he accepts. If he does, he is then asked “By what name shall you be called”? Regnal Name (Out of respect for St. Peter, the new pope will usually not take the name Peter. The new pope is then taken through the “Door of Tears” and into a dressing room where he is given the papal robes and the Fisherman’s Ring.

Electing a Pope The new pope then returns to the Sistine Chapel where he receives an oath of obedience/loyalty from the Cardinals present. The Dean of the College of Cardinals or another Cardinal then takes the pope to the balcony where he introduces them to the crowd in the plaza. He introduces him by his given name and then his regnal name.

Electing a Pope Longest papacy – Pius IX ( ) 31 years Shortest papacy – Urban VII (15-27 September 1590) – 13 days. He died before his coronation.