Conclave Step by Step through the Papal Interregnum 2025
Monsignor Charles Burns O.B.E.
Monsignor Denis Carlin
ISBN 9781860828560
CTS Booklet EX48
I read a previous edition of this volume, and have tracked down at least 2 even older editions. This specific edition was released in 2025 as both a free eBook and audio from the Catholic Truth Society. I was very glad when I noticed the CTS had this new edition available for the Conclave in 2025. I stumbled across the previous edition of this booklet, from the Conclave in 2013, while researching The Election of a Pope by Charles Burns. This particular volume looks like a scaled down version of his earlier works. This volume was made available as a PDF for download on the Catholic Truth Society’s website. The other volume The Election of a Pope went through a few editions I found versions from 1963 (H456), 1997 (H500) 2009 (Classics 341). Those three editions are much more extensive than this volume. But this volume deals specifically with a conclave after Pope Francis passed away, and is very concise and to the point.
The description of this edition of this booklet states:
“On 21st April, 2025, The Holy Father, Pope Francis, died. After nine days of official mourning in the Church, the Cardinals will meet in Conclave to elect a new successor of Peter.
Bound by oaths of secrecy, they can never reveal what is said behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel, but what can be told about the Conclave – how it is conducted, who fills the many important offices needed to facilitate the process, and what actions are taken behind closed doors – Mgr Charles Burns, OBE explains.
Revised and updated by Mgr Denis Carlin following the death of Pope Francis, this fascinating guide will take you step by step through the interregnum period, from the moment the Camerlengo (the papal household chamberlain) declares ‘Sede Vacante’ (the Holy See is vacant) until white smoke billows from the chimney above St Peter’s Square, signalling the election of a new pope.”
The chapters in this volume are:
Introduction
Why Such Interest?
Death of a Pope
The Grand Electors
Before the Conclave
The Conclave Begins
Voting for the Next Pope
Casting Their Votes
Counting the Votes
Double Checking
Impasse
Some Statistics
Election Archived
The introduction of this booklet states:
“The Papacy is a dynasty: it claims to be an unbroken succession of Popes, onwards from the Apostle Peter in the first century of the Christian era, so is possibly the oldest institution surviving continuously to the present day.
Unlike royal dynasties, however, the next in line to the papacy is unknown until he is elected to the office. The election of a new Pope arouses interest worldwide, not only within the Roman Catholic Church, but indeed with many of other faiths and of none.
The public gaze will soon be focused on the Vatican, where the Cardinals assemble in seclusion to decide the succession. For centuries this has been termed the Conclave, derived from the Latin words cum and clave, meaning ‘under-lock-and-key’. Literally they are locked in and others are locked out.”
This is not a long volume. I read it over an afternoon sitting in the sun. It was a very engaging read. Once I started I could hardly put it down. On the title page we are informed that:
“A basic outline prepared by
Monsignor Charles Burns O.B.E.
Residential Canon of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican Ecclesiastical Adviser at the British Embassy to the Holy See”
Taking a quick look at the other volume I have the writing style is quite different. This volume was written with a specific conclave in mind. And in fact several roles for the conclave, and of leadership at the time are named, but almost always in brackets so that it could be read again with future conclaves in mind. The revisions and updates for the 2025 edition were by Monsignor Denis Carlin. For example:
“Only the following remain in office for the duration of the vacancy and may exercise their ordinary prescribed faculties (office holders at the time of the death of Pope Francis are named in parentheses): the Dean of the College of Cardinals (Giovanni Battista Re) and the Camerlengo (Kevin Farrell) to organise the Conclave. The Major Penitentiary (Angelo de Donatis), the Vicar of Rome (Baldassare Reina), the Archpriest of St Peter’s and Vicar General of Vatican City (Mauro Gambetti), for matters concerning the pastoral care of souls [14]. The Substitute of the Secretariat of State (Archbishop Edgar Peña Para), the Secretary for Relations with States (Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher), the Secretaries of the Curial Departments and the Papal Almoner (Konrad Krajewski) also remain in office, all answerable to the College of Cardinals [20, 22]. The Papal Representatives abroad continue at their diplomatic missions and their accreditations do not lapse [21].”
The numbers in square brackets:
“The norms for a valid election to the papacy are set out in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, dated 22 February 1996, published in the Acta Apostolicæ Sedis. The numbers given here within brackets refer to the relevant paragraphs to facilitate cross-checking with the official authentic text.”
I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume. Some of them are:
“The death of a Pope, whether sudden and unpredicted, or preceded by infirmity and advanced age, does not cause a crisis, nor would his free and clearly expressed resignation, which does not require to be accepted and confirmed by anyone. In both these circumstances, procedures are in place to replace him. There are, however, no procedures for deposing an impaired, mentally deranged, senile, comatose, or a manifestly immoral one. The papacy is vacated only by demise or renunciation.”
“The rules are the following and must be implemented and adhered to closely by the Grand Electors, it being their right and duty to ensure this due process of Canon Law by their personal oath of commitment.”
“The Apostolic Constitution confirms that the maximum number of electors should be restricted to one hundred and twenty [33]; but this norm appeared to be abrogated by the mere fact that after recent consistories for the creation of new Cardinals the aggregate number has sometimes exceeded the legal limit.”
“The principal protagonists with special roles in the process of the election are the following (office holders at the time of the death of Pope Francis are listed in parenthses): Dean of the College of Cardinals; Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church; Major Penitentiary; Vicar of the Diocese of Rome; Archpriest of St Peter’s; Vicar General for Vatican City State; former Cardinal Secretary of State (Pietro Parolin); former President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State (Sr Raffaella Petrini); Senior Cardinal Deacon (Dominique Mamberti) Junior Cardinal Deacon (George Koovakad); Master of Papal Liturgical Ceremonies (Mgr Diego Giovanni Ravelli); Secretary of the College of Cardinals (Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari).”
“On the morning of the fifteenth day after the vacancy of the Holy See, and not later than the twentieth, the Cardinal Electors concelebrate a Votive Mass in St Peter’s Basilica Pro eligendo Papa (for the election of a Pope) [49]. Later that afternoon, they assemble in the Pauline Chapel, the smaller of the internal chapels of the Vatican Palace, constructed during the pontificate of Pope Paul III (1534-1549), and process chanting the Latin hymn Veni Creator to the Sistine Chapel, where the election will be held and total seclusion guaranteed through careful preparations and stringent technical checks of the entire area [51].”
“The only valid form of electing the Pope is by scrutiny, a two-thirds majority of the votes cast being required to elect a candidate, or two-thirds plus one when the total number of Electors does not divide into three equal parts [62]. For instance with a full electoral college of one hundred and twenty voters, a two-thirds majority of eighty would be required, whereas with their number reduced to say one hundred and fifteen, the necessary majority would be seventy-six plus one.”
“The longest interregnum recorded was prolonged for two years, nine months and two days, from the death of Pope Clement IV on 29 November 1268, until the election of his successor Pope Gregory X on 9 September 1271. A previous one had lasted for two years, three months and one day, the interval between the pontificates of Pope Honorius IV (1285-1287) and Pope Nicholas IV (1288- 1292). They were exceptions.”
“In modern times the actual conclaves have been of very short duration: it took only two days to elect Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli/Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), Albino Luciani/Pope John Paul I (1978), Cardinal Josef Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013), and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergolio/Pope Francis (2013-2025) following interregnums ranging from fourteen to nineteen days. It took three days to elect Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini/Pope St Paul VI (1963-1978) and Cardinal Karol Wojtyła/Pope St John Paul II (1978-2005), both after an interregnum of seventeen days.”
This booklet was a wonderful read. The writing was clean and crisp. It was informative, and even entertaining. I could not put it down. I read it one afternoon and on the next listened to the audio version. This volume was modified for the 2025 papal election. It could be used again in the future; as all that would need to be updated are the names associated with specific titles, and the number of Electors at the time. I am thankful for the CTS making this available so quickly. The only thing I would have loved more was if an EPUB version was available as well as the PDF. An excellent little volume, I have already recommended it to a few friends and family who have asked questions about the process. I can easily recommend it.
At the time of writing this review the eBook is available here, and the audio here.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.
Books by Monsignor Charles Burns:
The Election of a Pope
…
Books in the CTS Explanations Series:
Marriage Annulment in the Catholic Church
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Does the Church oppress Women?
Organ Transplant – and the definition of Death
Abortion
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Does the Church oppress Women?
Organ Transplant – and the definition of Death
Abortion
Be Yourself An Explanation of Humility - William Lawson SJ
Gene Therapy – and Human Genetic Engineering
Prenatal tests
Gift of life and Love
Islam
Euthanasia
Infertility
Homosexuality
Cloning and Stem Cell Research
Contraception and Chastity
Freemasonry and the Christian Faith
Intelligent Life in the Universe
Spirits, Mediums & The Afterlife
Gene Therapy – and Human Genetic Engineering
Prenatal tests
Gift of life and Love
Islam
Euthanasia
Infertility
Homosexuality
Cloning and Stem Cell Research
Contraception and Chastity
Freemasonry and the Christian Faith
Intelligent Life in the Universe
Spirits, Mediums & The Afterlife
