While the cardinals who will choose the successor of Pope Francis began to settle this Tuesday, May 6 at the Vatican, people around the world wonder how much a conclave lasts. The answer is not simple, because there is not an established parameter officially; However, according to history, the longest recorded conclave took almost three years.
The identity of the future Pontiff is the great unknown in a conclave that experts anticipate open and without clear favorites, after the pontificate reformist of the Argentine Jesuit aroused a popular fervor and a division within the Church.
In the midst of that expectation, stories of other conclaves have been announced. Now, 133 Cardinals have the responsibility of choosing, as of Wednesday, May 7, to Pope number 267 of the history of the Catholic Church.
Before the question of many about how long a conclave can last, the story indicates that the longest occurred in 1268, after the death of Pope Clemente IV. The process extended until September 1, 1271, in the city of Viterbo, north of Rome, since at that time the election was held in the city where the Pontiff had died.
It is known that, in the midst of that election, three of the 20 eligible cardinals died. In addition, the process was marked by a strong internal political division.
This event also gave rise to the establishment of the conclave format, because due to conflicts, the cardinals were forced to remain at the papal headquarters until they chose a new Pope. Finally, Teobaldo Visconti was chosen, who adopted the name of Gregorio X.
On the other hand, the shortest conclave in the history of the Catholic Church took place in October 1503, one month after the death of Pius III. This procedure lasted only 10 hours, after which Giuliano della Rovere was elected as Pope Julio II. Until that time, it was the second largest conclave, with the participation of 38 cardinals. In which 133 marinated will participate on Wednesday.
Two days
The conclave will officially begin on Wednesday. The Vatican spread the eve of the Sistine Chapel that show the solemnity of the event: several rows of innkeeper with brown and red fabrics, on which the names of the cardinals appear.
From 3:00 p.m. (13.00 GMT) on Wednesday, telephone signals will be cut inside the Vatican, with the purpose of isolating the purple of external influences.
During the conclave, the “Princes of the Church” must remain without telephone, without internet access and without contact with media, and keep secret about everything related to the choice of the new Supreme Pontiff.
In the neighboring Plaza de San Pedro, thousands of people will observe the fireplace installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel waiting for the White Smoke, the first sign that Pope number 267 has been chosen.
Benedict XVI’s elections in 2005 and Francisco in 2013 took two days. Some anticipate that this process will be longer, especially because it is the most international conclave in history, with cardinals from 70 countries.
Save the secret
The high number of cardinals voters made the residence of Santa Marta, where they usually stay from the 2005 conclave, stay small. Therefore, a neighboring building was enabled that usually houses Vatican officials.
Before 2005, the sloping ones lodged in improvised rooms in the apostolic palace, less comfortable and with few bathrooms. For this reason, Pope John Paul II ordered the construction of the current residence.
Santa Marta, where Pope Francis also decided to reside, has rooms with private bathroom and services similar to those of a hotel. The allocation of rooms to the cardinals was made by raffle.
Purpurados can move there to the Mass on Wednesday in the Basilica of San Pedro, which precedes the start of the conclave. By then, they must have left their phones to a good collection.
The support staff during the choice – medical, elevator, dining and cleaning personnel, among others – also swore secret about what happens, under penalty of excommunication.