São Paulo, SP (Folhapress) – closed to the public and subject to internal joints, in their duration. The process began to have a format similar to what happens today from the 13th century, just after the longer choice in the history of the Catholic Church.
After Clement 4th died in November 1268, the cardinals took 2 years and 10 months to elect the successor, Gregory 10, allegedly due to divisions between Italian and French cardinals. The name only came out after they were locked in a homeless room and bread and water -based meals. Gregory 10 has then published a list of rules determining the secret and closed election, forcing voters to leave only with the elected decision.
By the Vatican records, two other conclaves lasted two years or more. One occurred from 1314 to 1316, in 27 months, whose delay is also attributed to a crack between representatives of Italy and France. The elected was Pope John 22. About a hundred years later, the cardinals took from 1415 to 1417 to elect Martin 5, whose rise ended the so -called west’s great schism, when they even had three popes simultaneously, due to divisions within the church.
In contrast, the 1503 conclave is still the shortest in history. According to the records of the time, only a few hours took for the election of Italian cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, who became Pope Julius 2nd. There was great consensus around his name before the vote, which was practically by acclamation.
It is not expected that the 133 cardinals voting conclave scheduled for this Wednesday (7) have a candidate with such unanimity, but the duration of the papal elections has been falling. In the last ten conclaves, the average time to ‘Habemus Papam’ was 3 days.
During the vote, most voters will sleep in a hotel behind St. Peter’s Basilica, without the right to communicate with the outside world -or be, without TV, telephone or internet. The logic of isolation comes from the name of Conclave itself, from the Latin “Cum Clave” (with the key), that is, when the cardinals are locked in a room to make the decision.
