As we continue experiencing a rather unusual time in the Church between the death of Pope Francis and the election of a new pope, allow me to provide you with a step-by-step overview of how the Church operates during this time. Over the 2,000 years of its existence, the Catholic Church has developed laws, regulations and protocols to order its life; the time of the sede vacante (vacant seat) and the upcoming conclave are no exception. This period of time has been regulated over the past 30 years by the apostolic constitution, Universi Dominici Gregis (The Lord’s Whole Flock), promulgated in 1996 by Saint John Paul II. During this time, the College of Cardinals together exercises authority in the Church but “solely for the dispatch of ordinary business and of matters which cannot be postponed.”
From the moment when the camerlengo (the head of the papal household – Cardinal Kevin Farrell at this time) officially pronounces the death of the pope, the cardinal electors – those 135 cardinals who are under the age of 80 – have 15 days to get to the Vatican. In the meantime, the entire College of Cardinals (currently there are 252 members) meet in “general congregations.” During the first days of these daily meetings, the cardinals decide when and how the pope’s body will be displayed for “the homage of the faithful”, make the necessary funeral arrangements (the pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after his death) and arrange for the destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring and papal seal.
During this time, the cardinals select two people known for “sound doctrine, wisdom and moral authority” to present reflections to the cardinals on the problems facing the Church and on the need for careful discernment in choosing the next pope. The cardinals are also called to “meditate” among themselves about who the next pope might be.
A “particular congregation” is also formed. This is an executive subcommittee charged with approving the ordinary business of the global Church and particular Vatican concerns as needed. This particular congregation is led by the camerlengo and three cardinals chosen every three days by lottery.
When the conclave begins fifteen days after the pope’s death (the Vatican has announced that it will begin on 7 May), the cardinal electors move into the Domus Sanctae Marta (the guest house in the Vatican where Pope Francis chose to live during his papacy). They celebrate a Mass Pro Eligendo Papa (for electing a pope) and, entering a communications blackout, they spend their days in the Sistine Chapel for the process of electing the next pope. The conclave (with a key) is ordinarily presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals but since Cardinal Battista Re is over the age of 80, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the senior cardinal-bishop eligible to vote, will preside. He will administer the oaths of secrecy and sincerity from the cardinal electors as the election process begins. They will vote once on the first afternoon and then four times a day – twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon – on the succeeding days, with a two-thirds majority needed to elect a pope.
If no one is elected after the first three days of voting, the cardinals break for a day of prayer and reflection. They are encouraged to have “informal discussion” among themselves and “a brief spiritual exhortation” is to be given by the senior cardinal in the Order of Deacons; currently, that is Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the chief judge of the Church’s supreme canonical court. The cardinals then vote for another seven ballots, with another break if there is no result. In the event of a deadlock after 33 rounds of voting, there is a run off.
Once a pope is elected, the senior cardinal – Cardinal Parolin, if he is not the one elected – asks the one elected if he accepts his election. From the moment he says “yes,” the man becomes “immediately the Bishop of the Church of Rome, true Pope and Head of the College of Bishops” according to canon law. He “acquires and can exercise full and supreme power over the universal Church,” and the conclave ends immediately – unless the new pope says otherwise. After all, at that point, he is in charge.
Let us keep the cardinal electors in our prayers, that the Holy Spirit may guide them to select the best pope for our times.