Pope Francis passed away on 21 April 2025, aged 88. May he Rest In Peace.
He has been in office for 12 years. What was his impact?
In my lifetime, I am fortunate to have seen the impact of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.
Each contributed in his own unique ways. Pope John Paul II inspired the young and the old with his many reforms.
Pope Benedict XVI, coming from the German tradition of scholarship, was a prolific writer of Christian theology. His books were a joy to read. I have many, if not all, of his books, if translated into English.
Pope Francis inspired the Catholic flock from South America to Asia with his humility and compassion.
The next Pope will be selected by a process known as the Conclave. This can not be held until 2 weeks after the Pope’s death to allow all eligible cardinals to reach Rome.
A recent movie titled Conclave starring Ralph Fiennes gives us a very good idea of the Conclave process.
Essentially, about 120 to 130 cardinals will be secluded in the Sistine Chapel.
All must be below the age of 80. The reason is not to elect an old cardinal as Pope, who is too infirm?
The reason for the seclusion has given rise to the word ‘conclave’.
In the Middle Ages, until the Reformation, a Pope wields tremendous power. He can make or break a European monarch by excommunicating him and banning the monarch from attending church.
Therefore, to avoid political interference and bribery, Pope Gregory X decreed during the Second Council of Lyons in 1274 that the cardinals should be locked in seclusion cum clave (Latin for ‘with a key’) and not permitted to leave until a new pope had been elected.
This Conclave in seclusion [locked up with a key] has given rise to the perception that the cardinals sleep in all glory on mattresses on the floor of the Sistine Chapel , and gaze up for inspiration at the ceiling’s magnificent frescos of scenes from Genesis by Michelangelo or gaze sideways at the equally grand The Last Judgment on the Altar wall again painted by Michelangelo 24 years after completing the ceiling, hoping to see perhaps a self-portrait of Michelangelo in one of the figures.
This perception, while inspirational, is now wrong.
In the movie Conclave, you can see the cardinals leave the Sistine Chapel daily to sleep overnight in the Domus Sanctae Marthae (Latin for Saint Martha’s House; Italian: Casa Santa Marta) .
This is a building adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Completed in 1996, during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, it is named after Martha of Bethany, a sibling to Mary and Lazarus of Bethany.
The Conclave was first held in the Sistine Chapel of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City in 1492.
Four ballots are held each day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
The winner will require a two-thirds majority. If there is none after 30 ballots, an absolute majority of half-plus one will elect the new Pope?
Cardinals are not allowed to vote for themselves.
Used ballot papers are burnt in a stove. The smoke coming out from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel is naturally black.
If a new Pope is chosen, chemicals are mixed with the ballot papers to produce a white smoke.
The chosen cardinal will be asked if he agrees to be Pope and what name he wishes to use as Pope.
The history of the Papacy is fascinating. Here are 2 books bought by me in 1999 and 2011 respectively.
Lives of the Popes is excellently illustrated. It stops at Pope John Paul II. Highly recommended.
The Popes by John Julius Norwich stops at Pope Benedict XVI.