A Brief History of Conclaves Past: From Fist Fights to Ghostly Pranks
As the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new pope, the world is once again drawn to the mysterious and often tumultuous process of the conclave. The Guardian takes a look at some of the most noteworthy conclaves from the past, highlighting the intrigue, drama, and even violence that has punctuated the history of the papal elections.
According to historians Vanessa Corcoran of Georgetown University in Washington and Miles Pattenden of the University of Oxford, the modern-day conclave is steeped in mystery, with cardinal electors swearing an oath of secrecy, as do the cooks, drivers, medics, and others who support their deliberations. However, this has not always been the case. In the past, letters, diaries, and other writings by cardinals and their attendants have given revealing accounts of what happened in the meetings convened to choose a pope.
One of the earliest recorded conclaves took place in 236, when a dove landed on the head of a priest named Fabian, which the cardinals took to be the Holy Spirit descending upon him. As the Guardian reports, Fabian was unanimously elected pope. This account, sourced from historical records, highlights the often unusual and mystical nature of the conclave.
In 1241, cardinals were locked inside Rome’s Septizodium Palace in stifling heat and unsanitary conditions. One died and several fell ill, and the factions were unable to agree on a new pope. Frustrated by the slow deliberations, Romans threatened to dig up the recently departed Gregory IX’s body. Eventually, the cardinals chose an aged and enfeebled man, who took the name of Celestine IV. He died 17 days later, before he had even been enthroned. The Guardian notes that this conclave was marked by intense pressure from the outside, with Romans demanding a swift resolution.
The longest papal election in history took place from 1268 to 1271, lasting two years and nine months. The cardinals met in the city of Viterbo, which was made the papal base as Rome had descended into criminality. Two years after they began their deliberations, exasperated local people took drastic measures to try to force a conclusion. They locked the cardinals in the Palazzo dei Papi, walled up the doors and windows, and reduced rations to bread and water. When that failed, they removed the roof, exposing the cardinals to the elements. Amid these austere conditions, the cardinals at last agreed on Teobaldo Visconti, who became Gregory X. One of his first acts was to create the conclave, with daily voting, as a way of electing future popes.
The 1378 conclave was marked by intense drama, with a mob surrounding the conclave, demanding that the cardinals choose a Roman pope. The cardinals swiftly elected Bartolomeo Prignano from Naples, who became Urban VI. However, he was a disaster, and within a few months, some of the cardinals had declared his election invalid and held a rival conclave. Their choice, Clement VII, re-established a papal court in Avignon. The schism lasted four decades, with each line of popes claiming to be the true successor and excommunicating the other.
The 1492 conclave saw the college of cardinals meet for the first time in the newly built Sistine Chapel. One of their number, Rodrigo Borgia, a powerful and wealthy man who fathered several children with a string of mistresses, offered his colleagues lucrative sinecures in exchange for their votes. He duly became Alexander VI. The Guardian reports that this conclave was marked by corruption and nepotism.
In 1503, the death of Pius III led to the shortest conclave in history. Within a few hours, Giuliano della Rovere, a man of little charm and with a violent temper, had become Julius II, also known as the "warrior pope" for personally leading military campaigns on behalf of the papal states. He also began the rebuilding of St Peter’s Basilica and established the Swiss Guard.
The 1605 conclave saw a fist fight between cardinals, in which they ripped the lacy bits off their rochets. In 1655, a group of young cardinals, bored with weeks-long deadlock, decided to play a prank on older colleagues. One dressed up as the Holy Ghost and surprised older members of the college in the dead of night. A cardinal is said to have died of pneumonia after falling and lying on a cold floor in shock after a nocturnal visit.
In 1846, this conclave elected a man who became the longest reigning pope after St Peter, the first pope. Pius IX was pontiff for 31 years. The Guardian notes that this conclave marked a significant turning point in the history of the papacy.
Finally, in 1978, there were two conclaves, in August and again in October, following the 33-day tenure of John Paul I. The second conclave chose the first non-Italian pope for 455 years when they elected the Polish cardinal Karol Wojtyla. The charismatic John Paul II – later canonised by Pope Francis – became one of the most popular pontiffs of all time and spent 27 years as the head of the Roman Catholic church.
As the Catholic Church prepares for another conclave, it is clear that the history of the papal elections is marked by intrigue, drama, and even violence. The Guardian has provided a fascinating glimpse into the often tumultuous process of the conclave, highlighting the human side of the papacy.
Source: The Guardian
