TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Catholic Church entered a sede vacante period when the papal throne was vacant after Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025. This period marks the end of the papacy and the beginning of the process of selecting a new pope.
According to Antara on Monday, May 5, 2025, the term conclave originates from the Latin phrase cum clave, which means "with a key."
This phrase refers to the tradition of locking the cardinals in a secluded space to elect a new pope without outside interference.
The purpose of this confinement is to ensure the confidentiality and freedom of the election process, preventing any external influence on the cardinals’ decisions.
The tradition of the conclave began in the 13th century, during the election of Pope Gregory X. This was done to prevent political meddling in the Pope selection process.
Since then, the conclave has become a procedure followed in the papal election to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the process. The Vatican has set May 7, 2025 as the start of the conclave.
Stages of the Conclave
1. Beginning of the Conclave
The conclave typically begins 15 to 20 days after the pope's passing, allowing time to observe a mourning period and for all eligible cardinals to arrive at the Vatican.
The process commences with a special Mass known as Missa pro eligendo Pontifice, held at St. Peter’s Basilica.
2. Cardinals Enter Seclusion
On the morning of the conclave, a solemn Mass is held in St. Peter’s Basilica. The cardinals then proceed to the Sistine Chapel, where they take an oath of secrecy.
During the conclave, the chapel is locked, and the cardinals are completely cut off from external communication, including phones and the internet, to preserve the confidentiality and integrity of the election.
3. Voting
The cardinals may vote up to four times per day—twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. A two-thirds majority is required for any candidate to be elected as pope.
4. Announcement of the Elected Pope
The outcome of the conclave is signaled to the outside world through smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke indicates that no pope has been elected, while white smoke announces that a new pope has been chosen.
When white smoke appears, the name of the new pope is publicly announced, followed by his first appearance on the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Imam Riyadi, Krisna Pradipta also contributed to the writing of this article.
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