A Fascinating Look at the Papal Election: From the Wahlmarathon to a Youthful Pope
- Grab a chair and get comfy!
Unusual Facts Unveiled: Ranging from Prolonged Voting Sessions to a Young Pontiff - Conclave's Surprising Aspects - Ranging from Extensive Elections to Adolescent Papacy: Peculiarities in the Vatican Assembly
The mystique of the conclave to elect a new pontiff never fails to fascinate. As the world peeks into the Vatican starting from Wednesday, let's delve into the ancient and captivating rituals surrounding the process. While it may seem straightforward, the history of this election has been marked by intrigue, speed, and sluggishness at times. From highly publicized races to elections held far beyond the Alps, here's a few captivating tidbits about the conclave:
Locked away for weeks in the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals eligible to vote remain ensconced until they secure a two-thirds majority for their chosen successor to the Holy See.
The longest papal election in history is no joke - the cardinals who gathered in 1268 were deadlocked for an astounding 33 months! The tension stemmed from factions that championed an Italian or a Frenchman, with the city of Viterbo north of Rome clamping down on them by using ingenious tactics like removing the roof and rationing food to hasten the election. Coercion and internal debate finally led to the election of Gregory X on September 1, 1271.
Contrasting this marathon election, the quickest one ever recorded was barely more than a day. The election of Julius II on October 31, 1503, went by so swiftly that a compromise candidate was chosen in a matter of hours.
Much like the changing of the guard, one might assume that the holy list of popes was always elected in Rome and the Vatican. However, the election has seen its fair share of global travels, with six popes having been chosen in conclaves held in France. An unusual event indeed, the conclave was even conducted in Germany: Martin V was elected at the Council of Constance in 1417, a move that can be attributed to the fear of Napoleon.
Notwithstanding the progress of time, the electoral process remains steeped in tradition, from the location of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City to the revered white smoke heralding the appointment of a new pope.
When the topic arises nowadays, the term "young pope" usually denotes a candidate pushing the century mark. However, history has surprised us with the youngest pope ever: John XII, who was elected at the tender age of 18 in 955, making him a teen by today's standards! Interestingly, the roles have turned as the older popes title holder. The two oldest popes recorded in history, Coelestin III (elected 1191) and Coelestin V (elected 1294), were a ripe 85 years old during their respective elections, while our current Pope Francis was spiritually chosen at the age of 76 in 2013.
- Conclave
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- Curiouser and Curiouser Conclaves
- Rome
- Vatican
- Germany
- Election Mythology
- Hungry Elections
- The age-old tradition of the conclave for electing a new Pope captures the world's attention, much like the competitive race of Alice in Wonderland.
- Elections held in Germany are surprisingly unconventional within the history of the papal conclave, akin to untertitled pop-culture myths that permeate discussions in entertainment and politics.
- The longest papal election, lasting a staggering 33 months in 1268, could be likened to an employment policy with an extensive probation period, a story chronicled in the general-news sections that spanned months.
- The Vatican City, the sacred setting of the conclave, is much like the hallowed grounds of employment policy, where the highest positions are contested and decisions made with great deliberation.
- Intriguing tales of elections past, such as the extremely swift election of Julius II in 1503, mirror the operational and management principles within various employment policies, completed in record time.
