Change and Tradition in the Papal Transition to De Gloria Olivae in 2005

  2005 Papal Transition to

Page Two

Foreword

This page contains minor remarks and curiosities related to the events and ceremonies associated with the appointment of the successor to Pope John Paul II. The aspects covering the death of a pope are covered in the first page.

The Conclave

Clement XI. died the 19th of March 1721, after a Reign of twenty Years, and about three Months. He was esteem'd a Man of Learning, and affable Behaviour, and gave patient Audience to the Meanest: However, his Subjedts thought he had reign'd long enough. The Romans please themselves with the jubilee of a new Promotion; the Court-Favours are then to run in a new Channel, and every Man is in hopes of some Benefit by the Change.
Edward Wright - Some Observations made in France, Italy etc. in the years 1720, 1721 and 1722, [1730].
Morto un papa, se ne fa un altro is the Roman way of saying that once a pope passes away, the attention immediately focuses on the appointment of his successor, in other words that life goes on. During each of the nine days of mourning a mass is held in S. Pietro with the attendance of all the cardinals: a different cardinal pronounces the homily and although the speech highlights the virtues of the deceased pope it also hints at the desired characteristics of his successors. All the cardinals participate in this initial part of the process leading to the election of the new pope, but only the cardinals below 80 years of age actually take part in the conclave. This age barrier was introduced very recently by Pope Paul VI and confirmed by Pope John Paul II, notwithstanding the adverse opinion of many members of the church and theologists.

Coats of arms of the pope and of the titular cardinal in S. Maria della Pace; other references to the titular cardinal in other churches

Cardine is the Italian word for pivot, the short shaft on which a joint rotates and cardinale was the adjective designating the deacons, priests and bishops who supported the activity of the ancient Roman churches, called tituli. Over time it became used as a noun designating those who had a right to participate in the election of the pope, who in the early centuries of Christianity was very often chosen outside the Collegio Cardinalizio, as the cardinals as a group are called.

In the structure of the Roman diocese there are six suburbicarian bishops (the bishops of Porto, Albano, Frascati, Ostia, Palestrina and Sabina a region to the north of Rome, so there are only six cardinal bishops). In 1586 Pope Sixtus V established that the total number of cardinals should not exceed 70 with the following division: 14 cardinal deacons, 50 cardinal priests and the six cardinal bishops mentioned above. In 1958 this limit was abolished, but the reference to the churches of Rome was retained and this explains why most of the churches show at the entrance two coats of arms: that of the reigning pontiff and that of the titular cardinal.

Some coats of arms of cardinals in April 2005

Most of the coats of arms of the cardinals were designed when they were appointed bishops and therefore show religious symbols: in a few cases the motto (the sentence accompanying the coat of arms) is not written in Latin, the official language of the Roman Catholic Church. Several cardinals have the same motto Ut (Omnes) Unum Sint (in order that they all become one ...) , the initial words of an encyclical letter (the formal papal letters dealing with the most important topics) issued by Pope John Paul II.

The Cardinals have each their separate Cell in the Conclave, and there is all possible Caution us'd that no Letters or Notes be sent in to any of them -, for which purpose the Prelates are appointed by the Governour of the Conclave, to watch in their turns at all the several Avenues, and take care of that matter. The very Windows of the Conclave are made up with Brick, within a very little way of the Top, and that part clos'd with some Linnen Cloth which admits exceeding little either of Light or Air: The Want of the later often proves prejudicial to the Health of their Eminencies, some of whom are of too great an Age to be able to bear it; so that many fall sick, and some die in long Conclaves. Wright
Extra omnes (all out) with these words the master of ceremonies will announce the start of the conclave by asking all those who do not have the right to attend it to leave Cappella Sistina: nearly one third of the cardinals will have to leave because they are over 80. Those left are (in 2005) 117, but some of them will not participate because of poor health. As a matter of fact the 2005 papal election process could hardly warrant to be called a conclave. This word means "with keys" and it refers to the procedures introduced in the XIIIth century to protect the cardinals from external influences: according to these rules the cardinals were confined in a limited place and could not be approached by anyone. The conclaves held in the Vatican made use of Cappella Sistina which was partitioned by timber panels into a number of tiny cells where the cardinals had to live until they elected the new pope. Pope John Paul II felt that these arrangements were no longer compatible with modern life and built a residence (Collegio di Santa Marta) where the cardinals involved in the conclave find a spartan, but nonetheless more comfortable accommodation. In addition the cardinals, according to new rules, can move within the Vatican, Cappella Sistina remaining their meeting place.

The old rules, with all their restrictions, did not actually protect the cardinals from undue pressure. In 1903 during the conclave called to nominate the successor to Pope Leo XIII, an Austrian cardinal read to his astonished colleagues a letter written by Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph, by which he advocated an ancient right reserved to the emperors (of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nations) to put their veto on the proposed election of a cardinal. Thus Cardinal Rampolla del Tindaro, thought to be philo-French, was barred from the election.
This was the last open interference by a government in a conclave. Many tend to group the cardinals according to their nationality (Italians, South Americans, Africans, and so on) believing that they may act in the conclave as a political party in a parliament. Assuming this comparison had some grounds the "political parties" into which the cardinals are divided have more to do with their views on the key challenges the Roman Catholic Church is facing. In the conclave of 1963 the cardinals were split on the great changes introduced by the deceased Pope John XXIII and to some extent this division was still present in the following conclaves.
A career path mixing both curial and pastoral responsibilities may increase the chances of a cardinal: the holding of a nunciature (Church embassy) is also taken into account, although on some occasions not with a favourable eye, because the nuncio had too close links with a dictator.
Another possible grouping of the cardinals has to do with their responsibilities: very often those holding important positions in the central government of the church, the Curia (a name which comes from the oldest political institutions of Ancient Rome) have different views from those who are involved in a more pastoral activity.
Because the appointment of cardinals is reserved to the pope who in turn is elected by the cardinals (who are also called Princes of the Church), from a political viewpoint the government of the Church can be classified as a co-optation process, with some points in common with that which existed in the Most Serene Republic of Venice where for nearly a thousand years a doge was elected for life by an aristocratic body.

Chi entra papa, esce cardinale (who enters the conclave as the most likely pope, comes out as a cardinal) is the popular Roman say meaning that in the end the Holy Spirit guides the cardinals in their decisions and all guesses turn wrong.

The coat of arms of the reigning pope (John Paul II) seen from the dome of S. Pietro in 2001

While the cardinals are busy casting their ballots, the Chief Gardener of the Vatican carefully reviews their coats of arms to be prepared to modify the flower-bed behind S. Pietro (and visible from the dome) where a new green coat of arms will soon replace that of the deceased pope.

The New Pope

Fumata nera (black smoke signal) is ordinarily used in Italian to mean a negative decision. The sentence derives from the traditional way the cardinals let the outside world know that a ballot did not lead to the election of the new pope. By converse fumata bianca (white smoke signal) means a positive decision. The ballot-papers after being opened and counted are burnt with such additives to make the smoke black or white and those waiting in Piazza S. Pietro learn from its colour whether they will soon see the new pope or not.

The first appearance of Pope Benedict XVI on the central balcony of S. Pietro

The new Pope was proclaim'd the 8th of May by Cardinal Panfilio, who came to the Loggia della Benedizione, over the noble Portico which is at the Entrance into S. Peter's Church, there with a thundering Voice he spoke as follows: (..) "I bring you Tidings of great Joy; we have a Pope, the most Reverend Father and Lord Michael Angelo, Priest of the holy Roman Church, Cardinal de Conti (..) who has taken upon him the Name of Innocent XIII." Wright
Nuntio vobis magnum gaudium (I announce you a great joy) with these words the most senior cardinal announces the new pope and he says the name of the elected cardinal and his new name.

XIXth century prints depicting an appearance of the pope from S. Pietro and bearers of the papal chair

The services in St. Peter's on Christmas day, in 1847, were attended by an immense concourse of people. Rome was at that time thronged by strangers from all parts of the world, and the zeal and interest of the native population were awakened anew by the universal enthusiasm inspired by Pius IX, at that time at the height of his short-lived popularity. (..) The very defects of the church - its gay, secular, and somewhat theatrical character - were, in this instance, embellishments which enhanced the splendor of the scene. (..) In due season the pope appeared, seated in the "sedia gestatoria", a sort of capacious arm-chair, borne upon men's shoulders, flanked on either side by the enormous fan of white peacock feathers. He was carried up the whole length of the nave, distributing his blessing with a peculiar motion of the hand upon the kneeling congregation.
George Stillman Hillard - Six Months in Italy in 1847-1848
In the past the appearances of the popes at ceremonies were marked by great pomp which was greatly reduced by Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI to the dismay of the so called "Black nobility", the Roman nobility of papal appointment, whose members did not accept the 1870 annexation of Rome and thus put on their palaces and dresses (black) mourning marks. They had several roles in the papal ceremonies, in particular they were very proud of bearing the papal chair.

(left) A shop selling ecclesiastical outfits; (centre/right) a more exclusive one

The area near S. Maria sopra Minerva is known for the many shops selling suits for the clergy and objects for religious ceremonies. The shop window of Sartoria (tailor's) Gammarelli however does not display suits for priests and abbots, friars and nuns, but just a white zucchetto, the white skull-cap reserved to the pope. Gammarelli provides the papal outfit for the first appearance of the new pope. It is prepared in three sizes and it is adjusted at the last minute by a few pins.

The New Bishop of Rome

The most important ceremony marking the election of the new pope was the procession which accompanied him from the Vatican to S. Giovanni in Laterano, the ancient site of the Papal see. The procession was called possessio as the pope by crossing the whole city took possession of Rome and became its Bishop.

1724 print by Bernard Picart (1673-1733) showing Pope Benedict XIII's "possessio"

Many painters and engravers have left a visual memory of this procession. To show the procession in its entirety they used a bustrophedic pattern: this unusual word applies to languages which are written from left to right and backwards and it derives from the way a field is ploughed.

The pope on the white horse

The pope reached S. Giovanni in Laterano riding a white mule or horse or on an elaborate litter. The procession moved from the Vatican to Castel Sant'Angelo, crossed the Tiber at Ponte Sant'Angelo and moved towards S. Andrea della Valle, Campidoglio, Colosseo, S. Clemente to eventually reach Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano (the only specific location shown in the print).

The cardinal bishops and the band

All the cardinals followed the pope, first the cardinal bishops, then the cardinal priests and last the cardinal deacons. Trumpets and drums announced the arrival of the procession. Representatives of the guilds waited for the arrival of the pope and in various forms showed him their submission and devotion. The Jews showed him a Bible and the pope in turn recognized the sanctity of the book, but blamed them for their false interpretation of it.

Triumphal arches in 1724 and 1721

Each guild or "nation" (community of foreigners living in Rome) was responsible for the decoration of a section of the itinerary. The municipality of Rome used to erect an ephemeral triumphal arch in Piazza del Campidoglio and on some occasions the Florentine community did the same near S. Giovanni dei Fiorentini (they made a special effort in 1605 to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XI, the Florentine Cardinal Alessandro de' Medici: the arch was particularly rich, but it did not bring good luck to the Pope who on that same day got sick and passed away ten days later). The most magnificent arches were erected in the Forum in front of the Orti Farnesiani, by the Duke of Parma (a Farnese): the first one for the possessio of Pope Innocent X in 1644 (you may wish to read an account of the procession by John Evelyn). They were designed by some of the best architects: Girolamo Rainaldi (Innocent X - 1644); Carlo Rainaldi (Clement IX - 1667; Clement X - 1670; Alexander VIII - 1689); Carlo Fontana (Innocent XII - 1692; Clement XI - 1701); Ferdinando Fuga (Benedict XIV - 1740). The last grand procession took place in 1775 for Pope Pius VI (you may wish to read an account of it by John Moore)