Apostolic Letter to the Conclave

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Apostolic letters to the conclave , published in the form of a papal bull , a decree , a motu proprio or an apostolic constitution , served and still serve to order the electoral process for the popes and the provisions referring to them. The papal elections were not clearly regulated until 1059. Although democratic electoral procedures could be identified, there were no limits to outside influence. The secular rulers were interested in exerting influence in the papal election from an early stage. Later emperors and kings exerted pressure on the election of the Pope, prevented majorities and threatened the assembled voters. The democratic participation of the people did not lead to a proper papal election either. At the beginning of the 11th century there was a decisive turning point: the initiator of an electoral law provision was the later Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085). Even as a monk Hildebrand, he pushed for a regulated and free election of the Pope, because his own election as Pope did not conform to the provisions of 1059.

Examples of Apostolic Letter

The first papal election decree was announced on April 13, 1059 by Pope Nicholas II (1058-1061) with the papal bull In nomine Domini . Here the cardinals - initially only the cardinal bishops - were granted the right to elect a pope. The cardinals ranked below and the Roman clergy were only supposed to approve the election, while the emperor and his successors were granted the right of confirmation.

With the apostolic letter Licet de vitanda of March 19, 1179, Pope Alexander III. (1159–1181) that only he should be recognized as Pope who has a two-thirds majority . He had to deal with four opposing popes ( Viktor IV , Paschalis III , Kalixtus III and Innocent III ). In addition, a right of appeal for the minority was rejected.

The Quinque Compilationes Antiquae are collections of decretals by Pope Innocent III. from his pontificate years from 1198 to 1216 and the resolutions of the Fourth Lateran Council (1215). This contains the ordinance that the election of bishops (analogous to this, the election of the Pope) can be placed in the hands of a few trusted people to be elected, i.e. an electoral body.

The decree Quia frequenter of Pope Innocent IV (1243–1254) dates from August 25, 1245. It stipulates that all cardinals who have attended the funeral ceremony of the deceased Pope must wait for those entitled to vote who continue to arrive. They must not be forcibly prevented from voting by laypeople . Cardinals who retreat lose their right to vote and it is up to the person to be proclaimed elected who receives two thirds of the votes present. For the first time it is decreed that one's own vote does not count in the papal election.

The decree Ubi periculum ( German "Where there is danger" ) published on July 16, 1274 by Pope Gregory X. (1271–1276) is considered to be one of the most important orders for the implementation of papal elections. This decree was issued by Pope John XXI. (1276–1277) repealed and reactivated by Pope Celestine V (1294). Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) had Ubi periculum included in canon law . The decree sets out clear implementation provisions, for example: A waiting period of ten days is set for the cardinals who are arriving. After the ten days have elapsed, all eligible voters have to come to the voting location. You can only have one Conclavist at a time. It is optional whether they choose a cleric or a layman as servant . In exceptional cases, a second helper may be taken along. The cardinals are not allowed to send a letter or use a messenger. Excommunication is threatened as a punishment for these orders . In the Papal Palace, a large shared bedroom is set up without partition walls or screens. This “common room” ( conclave ) must be locked so that it cannot be seen from any side. Nobody is allowed to have access to the cardinals or to speak to them in secret. The cardinals are also not allowed to accept visits unless all cardinals have consented. A window will be installed in the room, which is sufficient for passing food, but not for climbing through. Regarding the actual ballots, it is said in a similar way: If the papal election has not led to any result after three days, the cardinals will only receive one meal a day. After another five days, bread, wine and water are ordered as a single daily meal. After all, they do not receive any salaries during the conclave. Orders are still being issued which deal with the absence or prevention of the papal election. The rulers are asked not to hinder the election of the Pope. Rather, they should monitor compliance with these rules.  

As mentioned earlier, Pope John XXI. with the Apostolic Constitution Licet on the electoral regulations. His reasoning was that these orders were intolerable and would hinder the election in its timeline.

Pope Clement V (1305-1314) stipulated with the Papal Bull Ne Romani of 1311 that the election was to be carried out in the diocese in which the Pope died or at the seat of the papal administration. With this letter he decreed that the cardinals had no right to change the papal constitutions or to declare them invalid. Clement V prohibited the cardinals from exercising papal jurisdiction during the conclave and stipulated that the offices of penitentiary and chamberlain would not expire with the death of the pope. As for the eligibility to vote, the Pope determined that cardinals who had been excommunicated, suspended or interdicts may also exercise the right to vote.

For the election of Pope Clement VI. (1342–1352) the cardinals first thought about drawing up electoral capitulations ( capitulare , 'negotiating a contract'). With the papal bull Licet in constitutione of December 10, 1351 by Pope Clement VI. the number of personal conclavists was increased to two valets, good food was assured, and the state institutions were instructed to prevent people from leaving the conclave. The previous large living room and bedroom of the cardinals has now been converted into individual small living rooms with curtains and partition walls.

With the decree Periculis et detrimentis ( German  "In danger and grievances" ), Pope Gregory XI added. (1370-1378), after he had returned to Rome from exile in Avignon in 1377 , the provisions of the papal election in the event of "danger or grievances". An election of the Pope with a simple majority was ordered and the place where most cardinals can travel was determined as the place of conclave. This decree only applied to the death of this Pope.

In order to prevent corruption and bribery, Pope Julius II (1503–1513) issued the decree Cum tam divino on January 14, 1503 . In that document, he determined that any papal election made by bribery would be invalid. Sanctions were threatened in this case . The cardinals could also convene a council and a new election would be scheduled.

The papal bull Cum secundum of Pope Paul IV (1555-1559) was published on December 16, 1558. With it all previous decrees were confirmed. In addition, it was forbidden to negotiate about his possible successor while the ruling Pope was alive. In this ban, threatened with severe punishment, he included all bishops and cardinals and at the same time the secular princely rulers.

Further organizational and editorial provisions were laid down by Pope Pius IV (1559–1565) in the Papal Bull In Eligendis of October 9, 1562. These essentially include: The conclave begins on the tenth day after the papal death. Electoral negotiations are not allowed to take place in the first few days, and votes must be collected and checked daily. It remains with the closed conclave and the two personal servants per cardinal. The exchange of letters to the outside world is forbidden, and it is pointed out that voting is secret and subject to conscience. As options, the " inspiration " is used as an act of extraordinary acclamation ; the " compromise " with electors; the “voting according to canonical majority” was considered and finally the “joining of a candidate” ( Akzess = accedere ).

Pope Sixtus V (1585–1590) distinguished himself through a reorganization of the Roman Curia . With the Papal Bull Postquam verus of December 3, 1586, he regulated the cardinal requirements for the papal election. He used the Old Testament as a basis for his work, in the Fourth Book of Moses (Numbers) it says:

"The Lord said to Moses: Gather seventy of the elders of Israel before me, men whom you know as elders of the people and list keepers."

Sixtus V set the electoral body to 70 cardinals, who were divided into the following cardinal classes: six cardinal bishops , fifty cardinal priests and fourteen cardinal deacons . For the latter, a minimum age of 22 years, the " low consecration " and a year-long pastoral work was prescribed. In addition, four of the seventy cardinals were to come from the mendicant order and be a doctor of theology .

Pope Gregory XV gave further explanations on the electoral regulations . (1621–1623) with the papal bull Aeterni patris filius . In an exhortation he exhorted the cardinals not to prevent other cardinals from voting. He described the ceremonial and individual forms of the conclave. Regarding the actual election, he determined that the compromise can only take place after a written election has ended. Cardinals are not allowed to vote for themselves or to write two names on the ballot paper. Whoever does not take the oath will be excluded from the election. Furthermore, two ballots should take place on one day. According to this ordinance, the secret ballot has to be made “by oral or written voting, by acceptance of the candidate proposed by the majority by the minority and by spiritually achieved unanimity”. On March 12, 1622, Gregory XV. another decree. With the decree Decet Romanum pontificem the types of elections are confirmed again. These include primarily secret voting, compromise and acclamation. For the secret ballot, voting was ordered with ballot papers and two daily ballots. The ballot papers are to be burned after each ballot. In choosing by compromise, the cardinals can delegate the election to a body. With the acclamation, if all cardinals have agreed, a pope is proclaimed.

With the papal bull Ad Romani Pontificis providentiam of January 28, 1625, Pope Urban VIII (1623–1644) confirmed the two documents of his predecessors from 1621 and 1622.

Pope Innocent XII. (1691–1700) banned nepotism with the Apostolic Constitution Romanum decet Pontificem of June 22, 1662 , which ran through the entire history of the Pope and had also had an impact on papal election. Ecclesia catholicae is the papal bull of Innocent XII, with which he had forbidden cardinals entitled to vote on September 23, 1695 to bind the nominated candidate by surrendering.

Pope Paul VI (1963–1978) stipulated on November 21, 1970 in his Motu proprio Ingravescentem aetatem (English: “With increasing age”) that cardinals who have reached the age of 80 may no longer participate in the conclave.

After more than 900 years (the first papal election decree In nomine Domini was issued on April 13, 1059) of irregular changes, corrections, confirmations and additions, Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) promulgated the comprehensive and summarizing Apostolic Constitution on February 22, 1996 Universi Dominici Gregis . In the promulgation formula it says:

“Following the example of my predecessors, I therefore determine and write these norms after careful consideration and decide that no one dares to contest this constitution and everything that is contained in it for any reason. It must be inviolably observed by everyone, regardless of any contrary provision, even if it deserves a very special mention. It receives and achieves its full and intact effects and is a guide for all to whom it relates "

- John Paul II: Universi Dominici gregis

A new and the time adjusted provision specifies that the next conclave, the cardinals and their servants in the Domus Sanctae Marthae ( it. : Ospizio di Santa Marta ) should receive accommodation. All eligible voters must be accommodated in this house, the lot decides on the room allocation. Mass media (newspapers, radio, television and the Internet) must not be available in the house and contact with the outside world by letter or telephone is still prohibited.

The last changes were made by Pope Benedict XVI. in front. With the Motu proprio De aliquibus mutationibus in normis of June 11, 2007, he stipulated that the two-thirds majority should continue to serve as the decisive result in all ballots. With the Motu proprio Normas nonnullas of February 22, 2013, Benedict XVI. In addition, it stipulates that the beginning of a conclave after the resignation of a Pope by the College of Cardinals can be set before the 15th day after the beginning of the vacancy, provided that all cardinals entitled to participate have already arrived in Rome.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Licet de vitanda (Latin); Licet de vitanda (English)
  2. ↑ text (Italian)
  3. ↑ Can. 349 : “The cardinals of the Holy Roman Church form a special college with the competence to ensure the election of the Pope in accordance with special law, furthermore the cardinals stand by the Pope, either through collegial action when they deal with more important questions are called together, or as individuals in the exercise of various offices, with which they primarily help the Pope in the daily care of the Church as a whole. "
  4. ↑ Ne Romani. In: Salvador Miranda : The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. ( Florida International University website , English)
  5. ↑ Guide to documents and events. In: Salvador Miranda : The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. ( Florida International University website , English) (English)
  6. ↑ Cum tam divino (English)
  7. ↑ In eligendis. In: Salvador Miranda : The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. ( Florida International University website , English) (Latin)
  8. ↑ Postquam verus. In: Salvador Miranda : The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. ( Florida International University website ), accessed July 29, 2016. (Latin)
  9. ↑ Num 11.16  EU
  10. ↑ Aeterni patris filius ( Memento from May 17, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  11. ↑ Ingravescentum aetatem (Latin)
  12. ^ Universi Dominici Gregis
  13. ↑ This papal guest house in the Vatican was built in 1884 by Pope Leo XIII. (1887–1903) founded. It was first a hospital, then it became a pilgrim hostel and finally in 1978 John Paul II converted the former hospice into the papal guest house Domus Sanctae Marthae .
  14. ↑ De aliquibus mutationibus (Latin)
  15. ↑ Normas nonnullas ( Memento from April 22, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ) (Latin)

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