Secrecy and solemnity: Inside the rules of a papal conclave
After the death of Francis, a conclave will convene during which the cardinals will elect a new pope. This is an extraordinarily secretive event, the proceedings of which remain confidential. Disclosing details of the conclave can result in severe consequences due to directives laid down by Pope Benedict XVI.
The College of Cardinals will participate in the conclave. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote for the new pope. The voting process and the method of choosing the head of the Catholic Church remain shrouded in mystery to this day.
Disclosing the details of the conclave can lead to stringent repercussions. The most severe penalty is excommunication, effectively excluding one from the Catholic Church community. The confidentiality of the papal election is safeguarded by the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, established in 1996.
Benedict XVI clarified and reinforced the rules regarding the confidentiality of the conclave. The regulations introduced in 2013 apply not only to the cardinals participating in the voting but also to third parties involved in the process of selecting the next pope.
This group includes, among others, technicians, masters of ceremonies, and other individuals providing support during the conclave. These individuals, by virtue of their roles, have access to the location where the voting will take place.
Every person involved in the conclave is required to take an oath, the violation of which results in automatic excommunication, without the necessity of a church verdict.
Moreover, Benedict XVI also introduced additional rules related to the conclave. The voting may be arranged earlier than 15-20 days after the pope's death if all the cardinals have arrived in Rome. The number of masters of ceremonies has been increased from two to eight.
