The Conclave

The conclave is a gathering convened for the election of the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church and the head of the Vatican City State. This assembly takes place in the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals, completely isolated from the outside world, conduct a secret ballot. The outcome of the election is announced to the public through the color of smoke emitted from the chapel’s chimney.

Vatican City

The Vatican City State is an independent city-state established as a result of the Lateran Treaty signed in 1929 between the Kingdom of Italy and the Catholic Church. Located within the city of Rome, this theocratic absolute monarchy holds the distinction of being the world’s smallest independent state, with a total area of just 0.49 km² and a population of approximately 800 people. The head of state is the Pope, who simultaneously serves as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. The Vatican is home to significant religious and cultural landmarks such as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums.

Papal Election Process

Conclave

The conclave is the assembly of cardinals convened to elect a new pope. The term derives from the Latin phrase “cum clave,” meaning “with a key,” referring to the practice of secluding the cardinals under lock and key. Only cardinal electors under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the election. Gathered in the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals are completely cut off from the outside world and remain in seclusion until a new pope is chosen. Each day, two rounds of voting are conducted — one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Smoke Signal Practice

The results of the papal election are traditionally announced through the emission of smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel:

• Black Smoke (fumata nera): Indicates that no candidate has received the required majority in the voting rounds.
• White Smoke (fumata bianca): Signifies that a new pope has been successfully elected.

Papal Election System and Rules

• Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the election.
• To be elected pope, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes.
• Voting is conducted in secret.
• After each voting round, the ballots are burned, and the smoke from the chimney is prepared to signal the result.
• The elected cardinal is publicly announced from St. Peter’s Basilica following the election.

St. Peter's Basilica and Papal Elections

St. Peter's Basilica is built over the tomb of Saint Peter, who is regarded as the first pope in Catholic tradition. Following the papal election, the newly elected pope is presented to the public from the balcony (loggia) of St. Peter's Basilica, where he announces "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope!"). This moment marks the official proclamation of the new pope to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square and to the global Catholic community.

Important Details in the History of the Conclave

The first papal elections were developed in the 11th century as part of reforms aimed at improving the papal election process. After the death of Pope Gregory X in 1271, and with no pope being elected for three years, the practice of the conclave, which involves secluding the cardinals from the outside world, became mandatory. The longest conclave in history took place between 1268 and 1271, while the shortest conclave occurred in 1503, lasting only 10 hours.

The most recent completed modern conclaves are as follows:

• 2005: Election of Pope Benedict XVI
• 2013: Election of Pope Francis
• 2025: Election of American Cardinal Prevost