Traditions, Infallibility, and the New Pope
Francis' Successor
His name has gone silently unknown to millions of Americans who do not profess the Catholic religion. Cardinal Kevin Farrell official title is Chamberlain (or Camerlengo) of Apostlic Chamber, Roman Curia. For the past six years he has been one of the closest and immediate collaborators with the Pope—put simply, he is the Pope’s closest assistant.
However, for a brief moment in time, this man will not only enjoy his fifteen minutes of fame, he will also share control of one of the wealthiest religious organizations in the world—the Roman Catholic Church. As chamberlain of the Catholic Church, his chief responsibility is the government of the Catholic Church during a Sede Vacante (vacant seat). It was his sole responsibility to make the formal determination of the death of Pope Francis.
Traditionally, the chamberlain would strike the Pope on the head three times with a golden hammer. However, this ceremonious deed was not closely followed throughout the 20th century. Having pronounced the Pope dead, he then assumes charge of the papal household. One of his first duties is to remove the Fisherman’s ring from the Pope’s finger and smash it along with the official papal seals—ending all authority of the late Pope.
The chamberlain then oversees until a new pontiff is selected. The days immediately following the death of the Pope are filled with tradition and mystery, but faithful Christians should give serious consideration to some of the practices that take place upon the death of the Pope.
Pope Francis
He was known by some as “His Holiness,” “Bishop of Rome,” “Vicar of Jesus Christ,” or “Papa.” Others would offer that the Pope is nothing more than a conman who carries out the work of the devil as he leads millions astray. Those within the Catholic faith believe that the position of the Pope recognizes the successor of St. Peter as bishop of Rome. Popes of the Roman Catholic Church assume the position of “chief pastor” not because they are chosen head of the Catholic Church, but rather because they assume the title of Bishop of Rome. That position automatically elevates that person to be head of the Roman Catholic Church. And that was the role Pope Francis played for over twelve years.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was elected to the papacy in March 13, 2013. It was then he assumed his new name—Pope Francis. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969, and was created a Cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.
Conclave
With the Pope dead, it is the Chamberlain’s responsibility to convene a conclave in order to elect a new Pope. According to catholic ecclesiastical law (c. “Episcopo”, 3; c. “Plerique”, 5), the Pope is not allowed to nominate his successor. As such, a papal election must take place.
While the detailed specifics of this ceremony are slightly altered with each successive pontiff, the main tradition is consistently followed. In the past, after properly observing the death of the Pope, the cardinals would wait a set period of time (usually 9-10 days) for all of the absent cardinals to arrive in town. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are given voting privileges (and are considered for the Papal Seat).
They were then closed into an isolated room (conclave)—presently the Sistine Chapel—and there they did not have any interaction with the outside world until a decision had been reached regarding who would take the vacant position as bishop of Rome. There are even strict regulations regarding how the cardinals are to receive meals and where they are to sleep during this period.
But this is where the mystery and traditions unravel.
The Roman Catholic Church holds that when the Pope speaks on doctrinal issues, he is infallible. They note:
The Vatican Council has defined as “a divinely revealed dogma” that “the Roman Pontiff” when he speaks ex cathedra—that is, when in the exercise of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians he defines, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, a doctrine of faith or morals to be held by the whole Church—is, by reason of the Divinity assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer wished His Church to be endowed in defining doctrine of faith and morals; and consequently that such definitions of the Roman Pontiff are irreformable of their own nature (see Infallibility, 1910).
According to the BBC News agency in Europe, Catholics claim to represent over one billion individuals on the planet. How can one billion people be so duped? Their custom indicates clearly that a group of 120 men (cardinals) are locked inside a room, and before they come out someone has been bestowed as infallible. A man walks in as a normal individual, and walks out with “no superior on earth.”
History of a manmade tradition
The first occasion in which the word conclave is used in regards to papal elections came about in 1274 at the fifth session of the Second Council of Lyons. The Pope at the time was Gregory X. The election that put him in office lasted over two years and nine months. The only reason it ended then was because local authorities, weary of the delay, placed very strict limits on the cardinals, shutting them up, thus, hastening the process. Pope Gregory wanted to alleviate this embarrassment in the future, thus he proposed this new law of conclave. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia:
The provisions of his Constitution “Ubi Periculum” were stringent. When a pope died, the cardinals with him were to wait ten days for their absent brethren…. All were to assemble in one room (conclave), without partition or hanging, and live in common. This room and another retired chamber, to which they might go freely, were to be so closed in that no one could go in or out unobserved, nor anyone from without speak secretly with any cardinal. And if anyone from without had aught to say, it must be on the business of the election and with the knowledge of all the cardinals present.
No cardinal might send out any message, whether verbal or written, under penalty of excommunication. There was to be a window through which food could be admitted. If after three days the cardinals did not arrive at a decision, they were to receive for the next five days only one dish at their noon and evening meals. If these five days elapsed without an election, only bread, wine, and water should be their fare (see Conclave, 1908).
Pope Boniface VIII confirmed the action of his predecessor and ordered the late Gregory’s “Ubi Periculum” to be incorporated in the canon law. Since that time, all papal elections have taken place in conclave. Throughout the centuries, successive popes have added specifics or legislated on this subject. Anyone who disregards the laws of conclave is considered ipso facto excommunicated.
Within a conclave there are four possible forms of elections:
scrutinium, compromissum, accessus, and quasi inspiratio. The most common form—and the form that will probably take place in the current conclave—is that of scrutinium, or secret ballot. In order for a pontiff to be elected in this fashion he must receive two-thirds of the votes (excluding his own).
Here again much mystery and tradition is weaved into the ceremony as the cardinals take their folded votes, placing it on a paten (the plate that is on top of the chalice which allegedly holds the body of Christ at Mass), allowing it to then slide into this special chalice as an oath is recited. Three cardinals are elected to preside over the voting and then three additional cardinals verify the count. If no one receives the required two-thirds vote, then the ballots are burned with straw in the fireplace, sending up thick black smoke that signals to the outside world there has been no election yet.
The other three ways a pope can be elected are rarely ever used. Compromissium is a process used only when a two-thirds vote is not achieved—thus, all of the cardinals unanimously delegate a certain number of cardinals to select the next pontiff. Accessus is also used only when a two-thirds vote is not achieved. This procedure essentially gives the cardinals the chance to change their vote. The final way, quasi-inspiritio is where after no agreement has been reached in a session, a cardinal addresses the assembly, and “moved by the Spirit,” proclaims aloud the candidate of their choice. All of the cardinals then begin to chant the same name and that individual is the newly elected.
On February 22, 1996, Pope John Paul II wrote his constitution that outlined specific details of how he wanted conclave handled after his death and he declared that the “only form by which the electors can manifest their vote in the election of the Roman Pontiff is by secret ballot” (Paul, 1996, p. 3). Several times throughout the document he reminded readers of his position and insisted that it be followed to the letter.
He limited the number of electors from the College at one-hundred and twenty in number and reiterated that cardinals who celebrate their eightieth birthday before the day when the seat becomes vacant are not to take part in the election. Thus, the stage was set, and the method predetermined.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
The millions of individuals who profess allegiance to the Catholic religion should ask themselves a few very simple questions during this transitional period of change.
First, can we prove that Peter was the bishop in Rome and why is this position raised above all other positions here on Earth? Paul’s letter to the Romans addressed many people. However, Peter was not one of those. Had Peter been bishop, it would have made logical sense for him to have been among those personally addressed. Also, individuals honestly seeking the truth should ask why is the Roman seat the only one with special power?
Second, they must ask what biblical passage delineates that infallibility was passed on to individuals following the death of the apostles—for even the apostles were not infallible! Where do we read that Peter (or any of the disciples) had the ability to pass this on? And if it is claimed that God gives this unique gift, where do we find Scripture supporting that claim? Conclave is a man-made tradition started in A.D. 1274, yet out of that room will walk a man who is allegedly infallible? Exactly what is the process that occurs in which someone is bestowed with this unique gift? Consider also that this “process” and the idea of conclave is found nowhere in the Scriptures.
Third, Catholics should ask if the church they are attending is the church that Christ established or is it a man-made institution that follows many man-made traditions. If those traditions (i.e., mass, rosary, confessional booths, etc.) are not found in the Bible, then why are they being practiced? In addition, why would a religious body that identifies itself as Christ’s church need to have men write their creeds and practices in a catechism? Is not the New Testament enough for one to know how to become (and remain) a faithful Christian?
Six months from now, after the new Pope has taken the seat and has settled in, much of this will be forgotten. But I hope that some will question these practices—and I hope they will diligently seek truthful answers. The church Christ founded is not based on traditions of men, but rather on the pattern set forth in the New Testament. Some of those traditions—candles, Latin mass, incense—may be extremely appealing to the senses. They may have a certain emotional attraction.
But we should always remember to ask: Are these things appealing to God? Has He instructed us to do those things? The Bible never speaks of a “Pope,” and yet an entire religion is framed around this one man. Is this the church you find yourself in? Wouldn’t you rather be in a church framed around God’s Son—Jesus Christ?
REFERENCES
Conclave (1908), The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IV, [On-line], URL: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04192a.htm.
Infallibility (1910), The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VII [On-line], URL: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07790a.htm.
Paul, John (1996), “Universi Dominici Gregis,” Apolostolic Constitution of Pope John Paul II, [On-line], URL: http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02ud.htm.