A Millennium of Papal Elections: Bribery, Beatings, and Champagne
Vatican Controversy: Alleged Election Irregularities Surrounding the Pope's Selection, Involving Bribes, Sleepovers, and Champagne
Gear up for the upcoming Papal election! These days, selecting a new Pope wouldn't give our ancestors a run for their money. Long-drawn-out conclaves, fraught with bribery, have given way to quick and straightforward voting. Potential reforms may further alter the process.
Back to the White Dove
Way back in 236 AD, a white dovealighted upon the uninvolved layman Fabian in Rome, and the faithful took this as a divine sign. They promptly elected Fabian as the Pope.
Palace Drama
Power struggles surrounded the early Church's elections, with the Popes chosen by members of the clergy and Roman aristocracy. One of the most notorious elections, held in 532 after the death of Bonifatius II, was marred by bribery from royal officials and influential senators, as recounted by historian P.G. Maxwell-Stuart in his "Chronicle of Popes." A humble priest, Mercurius, emerged as the new Pope, adopting the name John I. He was the first Pope to change his name - quite the twist, eh?
Cardinals' Choice
Pope Nicholas II decreed in the year 1059 that only cardinals could participate in Papal elections. Theoretically, anyone male, Catholic, and baptized could become Pope, but in practice, only cardinals have been elected since almost 650 years ago.
Behind Closed Doors
Back in 1241, a drawn-out Papal election had the Roman chief refusing to clean the cardinals' toilets or provide medical help to the sick. According to historian Frederic Baumgartner, it wasn't until a cardinal died, and the Romans threatened to exhume his body that the decision was made - enter Coelestin IV in the ring.
The Longest Papal Election
After the death of Pope Clemens IV in 1268, it took almost three years before his successor, Gregor X, was elected. In late 1269, the cardinals holed up in the Papal palace in Viterbo to reach a decision. Frustrated locals took matters into their own hands in June 1270 by tearing off the roof to speed things up - inspired by an English cardinal's claim that the Holy Spirit wouldn't be hindered by a roof.
Scant Provisions
Following chaos that led to his election, Pope Gregory X decreed a stricter set of rules for the Papal election. He ordered that cardinals must gather within ten days after the Pope's death, and their food supply would be gradually reduced. After five days, meals were limited to bread, water, and wine, as detailed by John L. Allen in his book "Conclave."
Field Beds and Common Baths
The cardinals once slept on field beds and shared communal baths during the conclave, as revealed by Allen in his book. After his election in 1978, Pope John Paul II ordered the construction of the Santa Marta guesthouse, providing the cardinals with more comfortable accommodations during the conclave.
Bubbly and Song
Upon his first appearance before the faithful on St. Peter's Square after his election in 1978, Pope John Paul II treated the cardinals to champagne and sang Polish folk songs. Pope Benedict XVI invited all the cardinals to a dinner with singing and champagne after his election in 2005, as reported by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.
Growing Shorter
The longest conclave in modern times lasted 50 days, electing Pope Gregory XVI in 1831. The quickest vote in the 20th century, in 1922, ended after just five days, resulting in the election of Pope Pius XI. Elections in recent years, such as those of Benedict XVI in 2005 and his successor Francis in 2013, took only two days before the white smoke rose.
Sources: ntv.de, Alice Ritchie, AFP
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- Notable Events in Papal Elections:
- The College of Cardinals' creation: Pope Nicholas II established the College of Cardinals for Papal elections in 1059, aiming to reduce secular influence on the elections.[5]
- Conclave formalization and secrecy: The conclave system was formalized at the Second Council of Lyons in 1274, with cardinals locked in a secure area to minimize outside interference.[5]
- Renaissance and Baroque Period Manipulations: Conclaves during the 15th-18th centuries were heavily influenced by national factions and Catholic monarchs, often involving an unofficial "right of exclusion" and direct monarchical lobbying.[5]
- Longest Papal Election: Lasting approximately 1006 days due to intense factional gridlock and external pressures, the longest Papal election in history occurred in the 13th century.[1]
- Short Papal Elections: Some elections have been incredibly brief, as shown by the 1503 election which lasted mere hours, indicating unified decisions or perhaps prior agreements among the cardinals.[1]
- Physical Violence and External Influence: Physical violence and external pressure, including bribery and coercion, have affected papal elections in some instances, like the infamous beating of a cardinal during the Renaissance.[1][5]
- Modern Reforms to Prevent Manipulation: In 1903, secrecy was introduced to reduce external influence, and modern cardinals are now isolated from the outside world during the conclave. However, speculation and informal lobbying continue to be prevalent.[1][3]
- The common foreign and security policy has been a central focus of discussions among the community of European leaders, as they aim to strengthen the cooperation within the community.
- Despite the advancements in technology and communication, the Italian regierungschef still communicates with the cardinals via WhatsApp, maintaining the tradition and simplicity of the Papal election process.
- As the election of a new Pope signifies a significant event in general-news, correspondents from 1241 were present to cover the drawn-out Papal election, describing the drama and intrigue surrounding the selection of Coelestin IV.
- The cardinal foreign and security policy has evolved substantially over the centuries, with the early Church's elections displaying a mix of bribery, power struggles, and beatings, contrasting with the more peaceful and structured elections we see today.
