Conclave… Not the Movie! May 4, 2025

   The recent fictitious movie “Conclave” does little justice to the actual working of a Papal Conclave.  I thought a brief explanation may be of interest.

Modern Papal elections are governed by two documents: The Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, issued by Pope St. John Paul II in 1996, and the Apostolic letter Normus Nonnullas issued by Benedict XVI in 2013.  These documents, which are merged into one, cover many aspects of both Papal Elections and the vacancy period between the death of one Pope and election of the next.  This period is known in Latin as Sede Vacante (“vacant seat”).

During Sede Vacante, “the College of Cardinals has no power or jurisdiction in matters which pertain to the Supreme Pontiff during his lifetime or in the exercise of his office; such matters are to be reserved completely and exclusively to the future Pope.” (UDG 1.1) Also “the government of the Church is entrusted to the College of Cardinals solely for the dispatch of ordinary business and of matters which cannot be postponed, and for the preparation of everything necessary for the election of the new Pope.” Therefore, during this time the Magisterium, the teaching office of the Church made up of the bishops led by the Bishop of Rome (the Pope), cannot issue any new doctrines or teachings. 

The process and those who vote for the Pope has evolved with time. Although any male who is a baptized Catholic can be chosen as Pope, for the last 600 years the electors have been Cardinals, and the Popes have been Cardinals.  The number of  Cardinal Electors was set at 120 by Pope Paul VI.

Send questions to: DRE@saintcolumbachurch.org.  Please place Q’s Pews in the subject line. All questions are answered and kept confidential.