From College of Cardinals to Room of Tears, the A to Z of the conclave

Pope Francis has breathed his last, marking the end of his 12-year tenure as head of the Roman Catholic Church. The 88-year-old pontiff’s funeral was held outdoors in front of St Peter’s Basilica, with the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, leading the service on Saturday (April 26).

But even as the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, attention has turned to the conclave, which comes from the Latin words ‘cum’ (with) and ‘clavis’ (key), and meaning a “room that can be locked”, this is the closed-door meeting in which cardinals elect the pope.

This event is likely to take place with the next few days and will only be completed when a new pope is chosen, which will be signified through white smoke emanating from a chimney at the Sistine Chapel.

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Ahead of this momentous event, here’s a guide of the key terms, which shall be used.

Camerlengo

Between the death of a pope and the election of his successor, the camerlengo takes over the every day running of the Vatican. He is also charged with the funeral preparations as well as those for the conclave. Currently, Irish-born American Kevin Farrell is the camerlengo, a position that Pope Francis had appointed him in 2019.

College of Cardinals

The next pope will be selected by the College of Cardinals, the Catholic church’s most senior figures appointed by the pontiff. There are more than 250 cardinals from more than 90 countries, but only about 135 are cardinal electors (those over the age of 80 are excluded).

Interestingly, this time around, the vast majority of the electors, 108 of them, were made cardinals by Pope Francis. That means 80 per cent of votes will be cast by cardinals who owe their position to Francis.

Dean

The conclave is traditionally presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals, a position currently held by the Italian Giovanni Battista Re. But as he is over 80 years old, the task falls to Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

He is also the one who asks the new pope when chosen if he accepts the role and what name he wants to be called.

Extra Omnes

This Latin phrase meaning “everyone out” is used by the master of liturgical ceremonies to order all those not taking part in the conclave to leave the Sistine Chapel.

Fisherman’s Ring

Once a new pope is chosen, he is given a ring, known as the ‘Fisherman’s Ring’ . It is named so because Jesus told St Peter, the first pope, that he would be “a fisher of men.” After the election, the camerlengo places a new one on the new pope’s finger. Meanwhile, when a pope dies, it’s annulled — meaning it can’t be used in any which way.

Habemus Papam

This phrase, meaning “we have a pope’ is used by the Church to tell the world it has a new leader.

Holy Spirit

Catholics believe that the pick of a new pope comes from the Holy Spirit, invoked by the cardinals as they enter the Sistine Chapel.

Infirmarii

These are the three cardinals, chosen by a random drawing from the electors, who are charged with gathering the ballots of any electors who are ill during the conclave.

Nomen

The name the newly elected pope chooses for himself, often in homage to a previous pontiff to whom he feels a close affinity. Jorge Bergolio picked the name Francis as a tribute to St Francis of Assisi.

Oath of secrecy

The vow taken by the cardinal electors, as well as by those who serve them during the conclave.

Protodeacon

He’s the cardinal who announces the name of the new pope from the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica. The current protodeacon is French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti.

Room of Tears

Once a new pope is elected, he shuts himself in this tiny room adjoining the Sistine Chapel, where he can give free rein to his emotions.

Revisers

These are the three cardinals, chosen by random from the electors, who are charged with reviewing the ballots during the conclave.

Scrutineers

Three cardinals chosen randomly to review, announce, and tally the votes during the conclave. They are also tasked with burning the votes.

Sistine Chapel

The 15th-century chapel decorated with Michelangelo’s frescoes is where the conclave is held.

Santa Marta guest house

This where Pope Francis chose to live rather than the papal apartments, and where cardinals stay during the conclave.

Smoke

Cardinals vote using ballot papers, which are counted before being burned in a stove. If no one wins the necessary two-thirds majority of votes, a chemical is added to blacken the smoke billowing out of the Sistine Chapel chimney.

Once a new pope is chosen, a different chemical is added to turn the smoke white, announcing the election to the crowds waiting in St Peter’s Square below.

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Universi Dominici Gregis

The Vatican constitution governing the process from the pope’s death until a new one is elected, issued by St. John Paul II in 1996 and amended by Pope Benedict XVI.

With inputs from AFP