🇻🇦 Papal Conclave 🇻🇦

Pope Francis died on 21 Apr 2025 starting a process established in the Middle Ages.

Learn all about the Medieval origins of the Papal Conclave and watch as it unfolds in modern Italy during the Papal Conclave of 2025.

Once a Pope dies the Vatican enters a period called Sede Vacante, (Vacant Seat). Then the process of the Papal Conclave is started. Pope Gregory X issued the Papal bull Ubi periculum maius intenditur (Where greater danger lies) in 1274 which established the Papal Conclave.

Popes after Gregory rescinded the papal conclave and elections took months and years to complete.

The last pope elected outside the Papal Conclave process was Pope Celestine V in 1294. Celestine reinstated Gregory’s papal bull and the papal conclave. Celestine’s successor, Boniface VIII was elected through the Papal Conclave process as has every Pope since.

There have been modifications over the centuries but the core process remains the same.

Listen in to learn the Medieval origins of the papal conclave, how the conclave and voting process works. Who takes the oath of secrecy, why a popes change their names and what does the smoke mean?

Get all the links and see all the pictures in the show notes on Medieval Archives!

Grab a free copy of Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy by John Julius Norwich.

I hope you enjoy the medieval origins of the papal conclave. Who do you think will be the new pope? Send an email to podcast@medievalarchives.com Or leave a message by calling in to the Medieval Archives hotline at +1 720.722.1066

If you want to know about some of the worst popes in medieval history check out our Popes Behaving Badly podcast episode

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Intro music provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Norwich, John Julius. Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy. 1st U.S. ed, Random House, 2011.

O’Malley, John W. A History of the Popes: From Peter to the Present. First paperback edition, A Sheed & Ward Book / Rowman & Littlefield, 2011.

Sweeney, Jon M. The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation. 1st ed, Image Books, 2012.

Wärnberg, Jessica. City of Echoes: A New History of Rome, Its Popes, and Its People. First Pegasus Books cloth edition, Pegasus Books, 2023.

MAP94: Papal Conclave: Medieval Origins of a Modern Election