Articles
Conclave & rules
How the Church elects its pope: sede vacante, general congregations, ballots, required majority and the applicable law.
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· 7 min read
The Rules of the Conclave
The conclave, a solemn and mysterious moment when cardinals gather to elect a new pope, follows a process codified long ago, which has its roots in the history of the Church. However, the whole process has undergone numerous changes while maintaining the sacred dimension of the papal monarchy. Here we review the rules of the conclave and the modalities of papal election, taking into account the latest changes introduced by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.