By Emmanuel Gandu
HIGHLIGHTS
• Introduction
• History & facts of conclave
• A few other facts
• Speculation and prediction
• Yes, “Conclave” is in the Bible.
INTRODUCTION
A shepherd of profound faith and humility, the late Pope Francis dedicated his pontificate to enhance mercy, justice, and care of the most vulnerable. He was a moral light in a world darkened by inequality and indeference.
Sadly, but with total submission to the will of God, Pope Francis passed on to glory. It was on Easter Monday 21st. April 2025. It is hoped that Francis’ legacies will continue to inspire generations to come.
From 7th May 2025 a total of 133 Cardinals under the age of 80 years from 70 countries of the continents of the world will gather in Rome in a conclave for the election of a successor to Pope Francis.
We do not know who will be elected in that conclave but we do have a good idea of what will happen – a man close to God’s heart will emerge as the 267th Pope of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
HISTORY & FACTS OF CONCLAVE
Conclave is a gathering of cardinals at the Vatican to elect a Pope, the Bishop of Rome, the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and the Vicar of Christ on earth.
As the early Christian communities emerged, and since the Apostolic Age, the Pope has been chosen by a consensus of the clergy and laity with the assistance of bishops. This subsisted until in 1059 when a body of electors known as College of Cardinals was created. It was more precisely defined, as this college of cardinals was designated the sole body of electors.
As time went by, concerns around political interference led to to reforms in the election processes after the interregnum of 1268 – 1271. This led to Pope Gregory X’s decree during the Second Council of Lyons in 1274 which stipulated that the Cardinal electors should be locked in seclusion and not permitted to leave until a new Pope had been elected.
Through much of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the Catholic church had only a small number of cardinals at any given time, sometimes as few as seven (7), especially under Pope Alexander IV (1254 – 1261), and Pope John XXI (1276 – 1277). The difficulty of travel further reduced the number arriving at conclaves.
Until 1899, (as already highlighted) it was a regular practice to generally include a few lay members in the Sacred College of Cardinals. These were often prominent men of nobility or monks who were not priests, and in all casses, celibacy was required.
In 1917 the Code of Canon Law promulgated that year explicitly stated that all cardinals must be priests.
Since 1962, all cardinals have been bishops with the exception of a very few.
Since then, other amendments/details of the process have been developed.
In 1970 Pope Paul VI limited the electors to cardinals under 80 years of age. The current procedures established by John Paul II were slightly amended in 2007.
By 2013 Pope Benedict XVI also made some few amendments. The two – thirds majority vote is required to elect a Pope.
A FEW OTHER FACTS
(1) The longest Papal Conclave lasted nearly three (3) years – from November 1268 – September 1271. This was due to political disagreements between the cardinals.
(2) No Italian has been elected pope in the past 47 years.
(3) The past three popes –
(a) Pope John Paul II was elected on the third day of voting.
(b) Benedict XVI on the second day of voting.
(d) Francis on the second day of voting.
(4) Voting can get up to the end of the fourth day. If there is no winner after that, there will be no voting on the fifth day. This is to allow for prayer, quiet reflection and informal discussion before resumption.
(5) For the first time in the history of conlaves, an unprecedented 70 countries from across six continents are represented in the 2025 conclave.
SPECULATIONS AND PREDICTION
For speculators like me, the cardinals considered top contenders, front runners, and likely to become the next pope include Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines. Tagle is a close ally of Pope Francis. However, Tagle’s chances look slim and an unlikely outcome because the Italians would like to feel a sense of ownership to the Papacy, more so that there hasn’t been an Italian Pope for 47 years now.
Well, these predictions are all guess work. I may guess right or guess wrong, but your own guess may be as wrong or as good as mine.
BIBLICAL REFERENCES TO CONCLAVE
The word “Conclave” is not found anywhere in the Bible. However, if conclave is the act of electing a leader of the church of God, it follows therefore that “Conclave” is well expressed in the spirit of the scriptures.
Just like in our time, when a pope dies or resigns, or incapacitated, a new one must be elected. This practice isn’t something new, it has been part of the Church from the very beginning :
(1) Jesus prepares Peter for leadership of the church : “Jesus said to Simon Peter, do you love me more than these others do? “Yes Lord ..you know I do. Jesus said to him, take care of my Lamb.”
Jesus a second time said, “take care of my sheep.” Jesus a third time said, “take care of my sheep.”
John 21 : 15 – 19
(2) Jesus chose Peter as the leader of the church on earth :
“And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church…… I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven…….”
Matthew 16 : 18 – 19
(3) In Acts 1:15, when Judas Iscariot d!ed and left a gap among the apostles, Peter stood up among the believers and said it was important to fill that office. “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled…” he said. Similarly, today, when the papacy is vacant, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, acting in the spirit of Peter, leads the Church in beginning the election process.
(4) In Acts 1:20, Peter said, “Let another take his office.” This was not just a suggestion, but a command from God. When the Church loses a leader, the faithful cannot be left without guidance. So, when the papacy is vacant, a new pope must be chosen. This is the reason for the “sede vacante”, the period when the papacy is vacant, and the Church prepares to elect a new pope.
(5) Peter also showed in Acts 1:21-22 the qualities needed for the new apostle: the person must have followed Christ, witnessed His resurrection, and remained faithful. Similarly, today, the new pope is chosen from among the College of Cardinals, men who have devoted their lives to service, faith, and loyalty to Christ’s Church.
(6) In Acts 1:24, the apostles prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen.” Just as they prayed for God’s guidance, the cardinals today also pray for the Holy Spirit’s help before casting their votes. The election isn’t about who is popular or powerful, it’s about seeking God’s will. The cardinals’ prayer is simple: “Lord, show us whom You have chosen.”
(7) In Acts 1:26, the apostles cast lots, and Matthias was chosen. Today, we don’t cast lots, but the idea is the same. The cardinals vote in secret, but they do so with the same spirit of prayer, humility, and trust in God’s will.
(8) While in Acts 1, Peter was still alive and led the apostles, today, when the pope is no longer with us, the Dean of the College of Cardinals takes the same role that Peter did. The dean helps guide the Church and leads the election, speaking in the spirit of Peter, until a new pope is chosen.
(9) Back then, there were 12 apostles, representing the 12 tribes of Israel a symbol of completeness and divine order. Today, the College of Cardinals is made up of cardinals from all over the world, from many different countries. In this way, the Church is still complete, just on a much larger, global scale. What started then has spread to the entire world, and the same principles of faith and order remain.
(10) So, when the cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel, when the ballots are cast, and when white smoke rises from the Vatican, declaring “Habemus Papam!”, remember: this is not just a ceremony, but a living connection to the teachings of the Bible. The tradition of choosing a pope is as old as the Church itself.
(11) The Catholic Church remains faithful to Christ’s plan, just as it has been from the beginning.
Peace 🙏
Follow us on all social media platforms @dailyquery for news and analyses around the globe.
