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<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Papal Elections</title><script src="https://dtyry4ejybx0.cloudfront.net/js/cmp/cleanmediacmp.js?ver=0104" async="true"></script><script defer data-domain="newadvent.org" src="https://plausible.io/js/script.js"></script><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11456a.htm"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="description" content="The method of electing the pope has varied considerably at different periods of the history of the Church. . ."> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS" href="http://feeds.newadvent.org/bestoftheweb?format=xml"><link rel="icon" href="../images/icon1.ico" type="image/x-icon"><link rel="shortcut icon" href="../images/icon1.ico" type="image/x-icon"><meta name="robots" content="noodp"><link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="../utility/screen6.css" media="screen"></head> <body class="cathen" id="11456a.htm">  <br/> <div id="capitalcity"><table summary="Logo" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"><tr valign="bottom"><td align="left"><a href="../"><img height=36 width=153 border="0" alt="New Advent" src="../images/logo.gif"></a></td><td align="right"> <form id="searchbox_000299817191393086628:ifmbhlr-8x0" action="../utility/search.htm">  <input type="hidden" name="safe" value="active"> <input type="hidden" name="cx" value="000299817191393086628:ifmbhlr-8x0"/> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="FORID:9"/>  <label for="searchQuery" id="searchQueryLabel">Search:</label> <input id="searchQuery" name="q" type="text" size="25" aria-labelledby="searchQueryLabel"/>  <label for="submitButton" id="submitButtonLabel" class="visually-hidden">Submit Search</label> <input id="submitButton" type="submit" name="sa" value="Search" aria-labelledby="submitButtonLabel"/> </form> <table summary="Spacer" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td height="2"></td></tr></table> <table summary="Tabs" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../"> Home </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_white_on_color" href="../cathen/index.html"> Encyclopedia </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../summa/index.html"> Summa </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../fathers/index.html"> Fathers </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../bible/gen001.htm"> Bible </a></td> <td class="tab"><a class="tab_color_on_beige" href="../library/index.html"> Library </a></td> </tr></table> </td> </tr></table><table summary="Alphabetical index" width="100%" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td class="bar_white_on_color"> <a href="../cathen/a.htm"> A </a><a href="../cathen/b.htm"> B </a><a href="../cathen/c.htm"> C </a><a href="../cathen/d.htm"> D </a><a href="../cathen/e.htm"> E </a><a href="../cathen/f.htm"> F </a><a href="../cathen/g.htm"> G </a><a href="../cathen/h.htm"> H </a><a href="../cathen/i.htm"> I </a><a href="../cathen/j.htm"> J </a><a href="../cathen/k.htm"> K </a><a href="../cathen/l.htm"> L </a><a href="../cathen/m.htm"> M </a><a href="../cathen/n.htm"> N </a><a href="../cathen/o.htm"> O </a><a href="../cathen/p.htm"> P </a><a href="../cathen/q.htm"> Q </a><a href="../cathen/r.htm"> R </a><a href="../cathen/s.htm"> S </a><a href="../cathen/t.htm"> T </a><a href="../cathen/u.htm"> U </a><a href="../cathen/v.htm"> V </a><a href="../cathen/w.htm"> W </a><a href="../cathen/x.htm"> X </a><a href="../cathen/y.htm"> Y </a><a href="../cathen/z.htm"> Z </a> </td></tr></table></div> <div id="mobilecity" style="text-align: center; "><a href="../"><img height=24 width=102 border="0" alt="New Advent" src="../images/logo.gif"></a></div>  <div id="mi5"><span class="breadcrumbs"><a href="../">Home</a> > <a href="../cathen">Catholic Encyclopedia</a> > <a href="../cathen/p.htm">P</a> > Papal Elections</span></div> <div id="springfield2"> <div class='catholicadnet-728x90' id='cathen-728x90-top' style='display: flex; height: 100px; align-items: center; justify-content: center; '></div> <h1>Papal Elections</h1> <p><em><a href="https://gumroad.com/l/na2"><strong>Please help support the mission of New Advent</strong> and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more  all for only $19.99...</a></em></p> <p><em>For current procedures regarding the election of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a>, see Pope John Paul II's 1996 <a href="../cathen/01636a.htm">Apostolic Constitution</a></em> <a href="../library/docs_jp02ud.htm"> UNIVERSI DOMINICI GREGIS</a>. <em>See also</em> <a href="../cathen/12270a.htm">ELECTION OF THE POPES</a> and <a href="../cathen/04192a.htm">CONCLAVE</a>.</p> <p>The method of <a href="../cathen/05374b.htm">electing</a> the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> has varied considerably at different periods of the <a href="../cathen/07365a.htm">history of the Church</a>.</p> <p>As to the earliest ages, <a href="../cathen/06048a.htm">Ferraris</a> (op. cit. <em>infra</em>) says that <a href="../cathen/11744a.htm">St. Peter</a> himself constituted a senate for the <a href="../cathen/07424b.htm">Roman Church</a>, consisting of twenty-four <a href="../cathen/12406a.htm">priests</a> and <a href="../cathen/04647c.htm">deacons</a>. These were the councillors of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">Bishop of Rome</a> and the electors of his successors. This statement is drawn from a canon in the <a href="../cathen/04391a.htm">"Corpus Juris Canonici"</a> (can. "Si Petrus", caus. 8, Q. 1). Historians and canonists, however, generally hold that the Roman <a href="../cathen/05001a.htm">bishopric</a> was filled on its <a href="../cathen/15248b.htm">vacancy</a> in the same manner as other <a href="../cathen/05001a.htm">bishoprics</a>, that is, the election of the new <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> was made by the neighbouring <a href="../cathen/02581b.htm">bishops</a> and the <a href="../cathen/04049b.htm">clergy</a> and faithful of <a href="../cathen/13164a.htm">Rome</a>. Nevertheless, some maintain that the naming of the successor of <a href="../cathen/11744a.htm">St. Peter</a> was restricted to the Roman <a href="../cathen/04049b.htm">clergy</a>, and that the people were admitted to a part in the elections only after the time of <a href="../cathen/14370a.htm">Sylvester I</a> (fourth century).</p> <div class="CMtag_300x250" style="display: flex; height: 300px; align-items: center; justify-content: center; "></div> <p>After <a href="../cathen/04295c.htm">Constantine</a> had given peace to the <a href="../cathen/03744a.htm">Church</a>, the <a href="../cathen/03712a.htm">Christian</a> Roman emperors often took part in the institution of a new <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> and at times their influence was very marked. From the fourth century onwards, therefore, a new force had to be reckoned with. The occasion for the interference of the Roman emperors and later of the kings of <a href="../cathen/08208a.htm">Italy</a> was afforded by disputed elections to the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">papal</a> chair. The most noted of the earlier instance was at the election of <a href="../cathen/02658a.htm">Boniface I</a> (418). This gave occasion to the <a href="../cathen/04670a.htm">decree</a> (c. 8, dist. 79) that when an election was disputed a new candidate should be chosen.</p> <p>The interference of the <a href="../cathen/02137c.htm">secular power</a> was always distasteful to the Roman <a href="../cathen/04049b.htm">clergy</a>, as shown by their unwillingness to observe decrees on the subject made even by <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">popes</a>, as in the case of <a href="../cathen/14002a.htm">Simplicius</a> and others. The example of the Roman emperors was followed by the barbarian kings of <a href="../cathen/08208a.htm">Italy</a>, of whom the first to interfere was <a href="../cathen/14576a.htm">Theodoric the Ostrogoth</a>, at the election of <a href="../cathen/14377a.htm">Symmachus</a> in 498. On the recovery of their influence in the Italian peninsula, the Eastern emperors required that the choice of the electors for a new <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> must be made known to the <a href="../cathen/05676b.htm">Exarch</a> of <a href="../cathen/12662b.htm">Ravenna</a>, who in turn forwarded it to Constantinople, and until the emperor's confirmation was received, the candidate was not to be acknowledged as <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">Bishop of Rome</a>. This resulted in long <a href="../cathen/15248b.htm">vacancies</a> of the <a href="../cathen/07424b.htm">Holy See</a>. The custom lasted until the pontificate of <a href="../cathen/02427d.htm">Benedict II</a> (684-85). A similar claim was put forward by the Western emperors in the <a href="../cathen/10285c.htm">Middle Ages</a>, and some demanded it owing to a concession made by <a href="../cathen/01155b.htm">Adrian I</a> to <a href="../cathen/03610c.htm">Charlemagne</a>. This pretended concession is now recognized as spurious. As to the so-called confirmation of papal elections by the <a href="../cathen/02137c.htm">secular power</a>, <a href="../cathen/06048a.htm">Ferraris</a> (loc. cit. <em>infra</em>) notes that it must not be so understood as to imply that the new <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> received the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">papal</a> power from the emperor. This would be <a href="../cathen/07256b.htm">heretical</a>, for the elected candidate receives his power from <a href="../cathen/08374c.htm">Christ</a>.</p> <p>The confirmation of the emperor, then, was only to ensure that the canons of the <a href="../cathen/03744a.htm">Church</a> should be carried out without hindrance from factious and seditious dissenters. It must be admitted that the Holy Roman emperors sometimes made use of their overwhelming power unscrupulously, and more than once candidates were elected to the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">papacy</a> by direct imperial <a href="../cathen/11093a.htm">nomination</a>. <a href="../cathen/11356a.htm">Otto III</a> is credited with the <a href="../cathen/11093a.htm">nomination</a> of <a href="../cathen/06790a.htm">Gregory V</a> and <a href="../cathen/14371a.htm">Sylvester II</a>, and <a href="../cathen/07228a.htm">Henry III</a> with the effectual naming of <a href="../cathen/04017a.htm">Clement II</a>, <a href="../cathen/04614a.htm">Damasus II</a>, <a href="../cathen/09160c.htm">Leo IX</a>, and <a href="../cathen/15409a.htm">Victor II</a>. But it is obvious that such <a href="../cathen/11093a.htm">nomination</a> is not real election, for the acceptance of the legal electors was <a href="../cathen/10733a.htm">necessary</a> to ratify the choice, though undoubtedly they would naturally be swayed by circumstances to give effect to the imperial preference.</p> <p>It has sometimes been said that in the earlier ages <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">popes</a> have appointed their successors in the pontificate. Thus, <a href="../cathen/11744a.htm">St. Peter</a> is said to have so chosen <a href="../cathen/04012c.htm">Clement I</a>. The authority on which the statement rests is now generally acknowledged to be <a href="../cathen/01601a.htm">apocryphal</a>. <a href="../cathen/02660a.htm">Boniface II</a> chose <a href="../cathen/15427b.htm">Vigilius</a> for his successor in 531, but later repented and publicly withdrew the <a href="../cathen/11093a.htm">nomination</a>. <a href="../cathen/02304b.htm">Baronius</a> (H.E., ann. 1085, 1087) states that <a href="../cathen/06791c.htm">Gregory VII</a> in 1085 elected <a href="../cathen/15410a.htm">Victor III</a> as his successor; that <a href="../cathen/15410a.htm">Victor</a> in like manner chose <a href="../cathen/15210a.htm">Urban II</a> in 1086, and <a href="../cathen/15210a.htm">Urban</a> elected <a href="../cathen/11514b.htm">Paschal II</a> in 1099. It is to be noted that the canon "Si Transitus" in the <a href="../cathen/04391a.htm">"Corpus Juris"</a> (can. "Si Tranc.", 10, dist. 70) seems to imply the right of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> to nominate his successor, since its opening words are: "If the death of the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> take place so unexpectedly that he cannot make a <a href="../cathen/04670a.htm">decree</a> concerning the election of his successor, etc.". However, these so-called elections were never more than nominations, for none of the <a href="../cathen/11726a.htm">persons</a> thus named ever presumed to declare themselves <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">popes</a> before the ratification of the legal electors had been obtained.</p> <div class="CMtag_300x250" style="display: flex; height: 300px; align-items: center; justify-content: center; "></div> <p>It is certain at present, that, according to ecclesiastical law (c. "Episcopo", 3; c. "Plerique", 5; can. "Moyses", 6, caus. 8, Q. 1), the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> cannot elect his successor. It is commonly held also that he is prohibited from doing so by <a href="../cathen/09071a.htm">Divine law</a>, though the contrary has also been held by canonists. As to the gradual restrictions and determinations governing the mode of election of the pontiffs, we note that in 606 <a href="../cathen/02660b.htm">Boniface III</a> decreed that the electors should not meet until the third day after the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope's</a> burial. In 769 a <a href="../cathen/04670a.htm">decree</a> was framed in a synod of the Lateran, that the Roman <a href="../cathen/04049b.htm">clergy</a> were to choose as <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> only a <a href="../cathen/12406a.htm">priest</a> or <a href="../cathen/04647c.htm">deacon</a>, and forbade the <a href="../cathen/08748a.htm">laity</a> to take any part in the election. The newly-elected was, however, to receive the homage of the <a href="../cathen/08748a.htm">laity</a> before he was conducted to the <a href="../cathen/09014b.htm">Lateran basilica</a>. This <a href="../cathen/04670a.htm">decree</a> caused widespread discontent among the influential <a href="../cathen/08748a.htm">laymen</a>, and <a href="../cathen/11054a.htm">Nicholas I</a> in a Roman Synod held in 862 restored the right of suffrage to the Roman nobles. <a href="../cathen/08425a.htm">John IX</a> in 898 confirmed the custom of having the <a href="../cathen/04276a.htm">consecration</a> of the new pontiff take place in the presence of the imperial ambassadors. In 963, the <a href="../cathen/11354a.htm">Emperor Otto I</a> endeavoured to bind the Romans by <a href="../cathen/11176a.htm">oath</a> not to elect anyone as <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> until he had been nominated by the emperor.</p> <p>An epoch-making <a href="../cathen/04670a.htm">decree</a> in the matter of papal elections is that of <a href="../cathen/11055a.htm">Nicholas II</a> in 1059. According to this constitution, the <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm#b">cardinal bishops</a> are first to meet and discuss the candidates for the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">papacy</a>, and select the names of the most worthy. They are then to summon the other <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a> and, together with them, proceed to an election. Finally, the assent of the rest of the <a href="../cathen/04049b.htm">clergy</a> and the <a href="../cathen/08748a.htm">laity</a> to the result of the suffrage is to be sought. The choice is to be made from the Roman Clergy, unless a fit candidate cannot be found among them. In the election regard is to be had for the <a href="../cathen/13055c.htm">rights</a> of the Holy Roman emperor, who in turn is to be requested to show similar respect for the <a href="../cathen/01640c.htm">Apostolic See</a>. In case the election cannot be held in <a href="../cathen/13164a.htm">Rome</a>, it can validly be held elsewhere. What the imperial <a href="../cathen/13055c.htm">rights</a> are is not explicitly stated in the <a href="../cathen/04670a.htm">decree</a>, but it seems plain from contemporary evidence that they require the results of the election to be forwarded to the emperor by letter or messenger, in order that he may assure himself of the validity of the election. <a href="../cathen/06791c.htm">Gregory VII</a> (1073), however, was the last <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> who asked for imperial confirmation. It will be seen that the <a href="../cathen/04670a.htm">decree</a> of <a href="../cathen/11054a.htm">Pope Nicholas</a> reserves the actual election to the <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a>, but requires the assent (<em>laudatio</em>) of the lower <a href="../cathen/04049b.htm">clergy</a> and <a href="../cathen/08748a.htm">laity</a>.</p> <p>The <a href="../cathen/09017a.htm">Tenth Ecumenical Synod</a> (Lateran) in 1139 restricted, however, the entire choice to the <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a>, and in 1179, <a href="../cathen/09017b.htm">another Lateran Council</a> under <a href="../cathen/01287a.htm">Alexander III</a> made the rule that the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> is to be chosen by a two-thirds majority of the electors who are present. This last <a href="../cathen/04670a.htm">decree</a> did not state what was to be done in case such a majority could not be obtained. When the <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a> found themselves face to face with this contingency on the death of <a href="../cathen/04019a.htm">Clement IV</a> in 1268, they commissioned six <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a> as plenipotentiaries to decide on a candidate. The <a href="../cathen/15248b.htm">vacancy</a> of the <a href="../cathen/07424b.htm">Holy See</a> had lasted for two years and nine months. To prevent a recurrence of this <a href="../cathen/05649a.htm">evil</a>, the <a href="../cathen/09476c.htm">Second Council of Lyons</a> under <a href="../cathen/06798a.htm">Gregory X</a> (1274) decreed that ten days after the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope's</a> decease, the <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a> should assemble in the palace in the city in which the <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> died, and there hold their electoral meetings, entirely shut out from all outside influences. If they did not come to an agreement on a candidate in three days, their victuals were to lessened, and after a further delay of five days, the food supply was to be still further restricted. This is the origin of <a href="../cathen/04192a.htm">conclaves</a>.</p> <p>The <a href="../cathen/04670b.htm">decretal</a> of <a href="../cathen/06798a.htm">Gregory X</a> on this subject is called "Ubi periculum majus". For the later regulations governing papal elections see <a href="../cathen/04192a.htm">CONCLAVE</a>. According to certain ancient canons (can. "Oportet", 3; can. "Nullus", 4, dist. 79), only <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a> should be chosen <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a>. However, <a href="../cathen/01287a.htm">Alexander III</a> decreed (cap. "Licet", 6, "De elect.") that "he, without any exception, is to be acknowledged as pontiff of the Universal Church who has been elected by two-thirds of the <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinals</a>." As late as 1378, <a href="../cathen/15216a.htm">Urban VI</a> was chosen, though not a <a href="../cathen/03333b.htm">cardinal</a> (consult, however, Constitut. 50 of <a href="../cathen/14033a.htm">Sixtus V</a> "Postquam", § 2). A <a href="../cathen/08748a.htm">layman</a> may also be elected <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a>, as was <a href="../cathen/03479b.htm">Celestine V</a> (1294). Even the election of a married man would not be invalid (c. "Qui uxorem", 19, caus. 33, Q. 5). Of course, the election of a <a href="../cathen/07256b.htm">heretic</a>, <a href="../cathen/13529a.htm">schismatic</a>, or <a href="../cathen/15687b.htm">female</a> would be null and void. Immediately on the canonical election of a candidate and his acceptance, he is <a href="../cathen/15073a.htm">true</a> <a href="../cathen/12260a.htm">pope</a> and can exercise full and absolute <a href="../cathen/08567a.htm">jurisdiction</a> over the whole Church. A papal election, therefore, needs no confirmation, as the pontiff has no superior on earth.</p> <div class='catholicadnet-728x90' id='cathen-728x90-bottom' style='display: flex; height: 100px; align-items: center; justify-content: center; '></div> <div class="cenotes"><h2>Sources</h2><p class="cenotes">FERRARIS, <em>Bibliotheca Canonica,</em> VI (Rome, 1890), <em>s.v. Papa,</em> art 1; SAGMULLER, <em>Lehrbuch des Kirchenrechts</em> (Freiburg, 1903); WERNZ, <em>Jus Decretalium,</em> II (Rome, 1899); SMITH, <em>Elements of Ecclesiastical Law,</em> I (New York, 1805).</p></div> <div class="pub"><h2>About this page</h2><p id="apa"><strong>APA citation.</strong> <span id="apaauthor">Fanning, W.</span> <span id="apayear">(1911).</span> <span id="apaarticle">Papal Elections.</span> In <span id="apawork">The Catholic Encyclopedia.</span> <span id="apapublisher">New York: Robert Appleton Company.</span> <span id="apaurl">http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11456a.htm</span></p><p id="mla"><strong>MLA citation.</strong> <span id="mlaauthor">Fanning, William.</span> <span id="mlaarticle">"Papal Elections."</span> <span id="mlawork">The Catholic Encyclopedia.</span> <span id="mlavolume">Vol. 11.</span> <span id="mlapublisher">New York: Robert Appleton Company,</span> <span id="mlayear">1911.</span> <span id="mlaurl"><http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11456a.htm>.</span></p><p id="transcription"><strong>Transcription.</strong> <span id="transcriber">This article was transcribed for New Advent by Robert A. Orosco.</span> <span id="dedication">Dedicated to Fr Jacob J. Joerger, OP.</span></p><p id="approbation"><strong>Ecclesiastical approbation.</strong> <span id="nihil"><em>Nihil Obstat.</em> February 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor.</span> <span id="imprimatur"><em>Imprimatur.</em> +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.</span></p><p id="contactus"><strong>Contact information.</strong> The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is webmaster <em>at</em> newadvent.org. Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.</p></div> </div> <div id="ogdenville"><table summary="Bottom bar" width="100%" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td class="bar_white_on_color"><center><strong>Copyright © 2023 by <a href="../utility/contactus.htm">New Advent LLC</a>. 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