The Conclave: A Sometimes Secret and Occasionally Bloody History of Papal Elections

In 1271, with the papal throne vacant for over two years, local officials locked the cardinals of the Catholic Church in a room, forcing them to make a decision on the identity of the new pope. From this inauspicious beginning arose the practice of the conclave, the highly secretive combination of rituals and politics designed to select a new leader for the world’s Catholic population. With the Pope John Paul II ailing, the time for a new conclave draws nearer, and Rome is preparing for 6000 journalists and interested onlookers to descend on the Eternal City to witness the election of the next leader of the Catholic Church. This work covers the history of conclaves past, highlighting the vendettas, feuds, and political intrigues that have coloured the selection of a new pontiff.