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History Series: Conclave
History of the Conclave
How a New Pope is Elected
Most people, even knowledgeable Roman Catholics, are unfamiliar with the process of selecting a new pope. Much is shrouded in secrecy or obscured behind Latin and Italian terminology.
What happens when a pope dies? What is the significance of a pope? Who are the people responsible for electing a new pope? When and where does it happen? What happens during the election? What happens afterward?
What is Sede Vacante?
When a pope dies, the chair of leadership in the Roman Catholic church is empty. Sede is Latin for “seat” or “chair,” referring to the Bishop’s chair. Vacante means vacant.
In this case, it means that after the death, or in rare cases, the resignation of a pope, the Holy See experiences a period when “the seat is vacant.”
What is the significance of the Pope?
Among the three major divisions of Christianity — Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant — the Roman Catholic Church has a single leader, the pope, who oversees the entire church worldwide.
The Eastern Orthodox Church has the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is considered the archbishop and…
