An Italian palace without a roof played host to the first and protracted conclave in Viterbo.
FRUSTRATED CITIZENS BEGIN THE LONGEST PAPAL ELECTIONS EVER
In a historic turn of events in the medieval town of Viterbo, Italy, the citizens took charge, ending the most protracted papal election in the history of the Catholic Church. This groundbreaking event in the 13th century paved the way for the term "conclave" and ushered in the modern era of papal elections.
The Viterbo conclave proved pivotal as it lasted a staggering 1,006 days due to deep-rooted divisions among the cardinals over the new pope's name. This prolonged election witnessed citizens locked in a bitter battle between two factions, further complicated by their allegiance to diverse parties, primarily supporters of the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire, and intertwined personal and family ties[1].
Desperate Measures
The electoral marathon pushed the citizens to the brink, as they were burdened with the cardinals' expenses. Desperate for a resolution, they resorted to drastic measures to speed up the decision-making process.
First, they locked the cardinals in Viterbo's papal palace, giving birth to the term "conclave," which originates from the Latin words "cum" (with) and "clavem" (key). Frustrated by the lack of progress, they further restricted the cardinals' meals to bread and water[1]. When these tactics didn't work, they took the drastic step of removing part of the roof of the large room hosting the conclave, subjecting the cardinals to the elements[1].
These harsh conditions endured for just three weeks before the cardinals were granted access to other rooms in the palace, but they remained confined to the building. Eventually, after an excruciating 15 months, Gregory X was chosen as the new pope, marking the end of the longest papal election in history[1].
To prevent similar situations from recurring in the future, Gregory X promulgated a new apostolic constitution, imposing stringent regulations on the election process and allowing for the isolation of the cardinals[1].
setting the Scene for Future Elections
The Viterbo conclave set the precedent for future papal elections, as the rules and practices established during this time laid the foundation for many of the procedures used in modern papal conclaves[1].
Among the new rules, Gregory X decreed that cardinals were restricted to "one meal per day," and later, to bread, water, and wine, to encourage swift decision-making[1]. The newly elected Adrian V subsequently suspended these rules a few years later[1].
Viterbo native Fabrizio Cardoni takes pride in the city's historical significance, emphasizing the importance of preserving its medieval neighborhood and the pope palace[1]. Cristina Giusio, a tourist visiting from northern Italy, was captivated by the history of the Viterbo conclave after a tour of the papal palace[1].
Vatican history experts stress that modern conclaves owe much of their efficiency to the lessons learned from the Viterbo conclave[1]. As the conclave begins in Rome's Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to select Pope Francis' successor, Viterbo's legacy may once again play a role[1].
[1] Enrichment Data: Throughout the Viterbo conclave, the citizens took several drastic measures to hasten the election process. They resorted to locking up the cardinals, reducing their rations to bread and water, and even removing part of the roof of the meeting hall, exposing them to harsh weather conditions. These actions ultimately contributed to the election of Pope Gregory X and played a key role in setting the rules for modern papal conclaves.
In the context of the Viterbo conclave, a historic 13th century event marked by protracted papal elections, the citizens of the town took drastic measures to expedite the decision-making process. They locked the cardinals in the papal palace, leading to the term "conclave," and further restricted their meals to bread and water. When these tactics didn't work, they removed part of the roof, subjecting the cardinals to harsh weather conditions. These measures ultimately resulted in the election of Pope Gregory X, setting a precedent for future papal elections and their associated rules and practices.
In modern papal elections, the legacy of the Viterbo conclave continues to play a significant role. Experts note that many of the efficiency measures used in modern conclaves can be traced back to the lessons learned from the Viterbo conclave. As the new conclave begins in Rome to select Pope Francis' successor, Viterbo's historical legacy may once again be influential.
