Papal History – An Introduction

In the outskirts of the city of Rome, in the Appian way, stands the pilgrimage site, the Church named ‘Domine Qua Vadis’. An ancient tradition exists behind its construction that has a strong connection to the History of Papacy. During Emperor Nero's religious persecution, the Apostle St. Peter was on his way trying to flee the city of Rome fearing death. Approaching the Appian Way, he came across a man carrying a cross. Recognizing the man as his Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, the Apostle asked, "Where are you going with the cross?" Jesus replied, "I am going to Rome to be crucified again." His Master's words gave St. Peter a new understanding of his position, duty, and the necessity to bear witness to Christ. The realization that his duty was with his people to whom he had been entrusted, that he must sacrifice his life for them in their time of suffering and persecution, urged St. Peter to turn back and embrace Martyrdom. Although it is hard to establish evidence to this tradition, the history of the popes who succeeded St. Peter in the Church is apparent in the Apostle's response to Christ's invitation in the Appian way and his willingness to lay down his life for his people.

Studying the history of the Apostle St. Peter, the first Pope of the Church, and his successors is very helpful in understanding the history of the Church. The life of the popes who led the Church in different eras, the difficult times the Church faced, the religious and moral exhaustion and trials, and how the Church persevered in faith in Christ in such circumstances, shows us how we are to bear witness to Christ today.

When Christ chose the twelve Apostles, he gathered them into a community and appointed the Apostle Peter to be the head of that community. The popes are the successors of St. Peter, the great Apostle of the Church. The Catholic Church has so far been led by 266 popes, starting from the Apostle St. Peter to the current Holy Father, Pope Francis. In addition to being the Supreme head of the Universal Church, he is also the Bishop of the Diocese of Rome. The pope is also the sovereign head of Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. The Pope has various titles in the Church such as ‘Bishop of Rome’, ‘Vicar of Christ’, ‘Successor to the Prince of the Apostles’, ‘Supreme Head of the Catholic Church’, ‘Patriarch of the West’, Ruler of Vatican City’, and ‘Servant of the servants of God’. The pope also bears the title "great fisherman" as a successor of the great Apostle St. Peter who was also a fisherman.

The Papal Election (Conclave)

In the early days of the Church, the pope was elected by the clergy; approved by the believers. Upon declaration of religious freedom to the Catholic Church through the Edict of Milan, Christianity was declared as the official religion of the Roman Empire. The approval of the Roman emperors then became a requisite to validate the election of popes. The reformation of the Church in the eleventh century also led to changes in the system of electing popes. Under the judgment issued by the Roman Synod in 1059, the power to elect the pope was vested on the cardinals solely. Subsequent synods and popes enacted legislation that brought about several electoral reforms. It was Pope Pius XII who enacted a law requiring a two-thirds majority of cardinals to elect St. Peter's successor. Pope Paul VI later set the age limit of the cardinals at eighty. After counting thirty votes in Pope John Paul II's election, a law came into force that allowed a person with a simple majority to be elected as the pope at the discretion of the cardinals. In 2007, however, Pope Benedict XVI reintroduced a law requiring a two-thirds majority for the election to be valid. The process of selecting St. Peter's successor is known as the 'Conclave'.

Vacancy of St. Peter's Throne

St. Peter's throne becomes vacant either on the demise or on the resignation of the reigning pope. In the absence of a pope, the cardinals, led by Cardinal Camerlengo (the cardinal in charge of the papal office that controls the property and revenue of the Holy Roman Church), carry out the day-to-day affairs of the Church and prepare for the convening of the Conclave to elect a new pope.

When a pope passes away, Cardinal 'Camerlengo' confirms his death by gently striking his head three times with a silver hammer and calling out his baptismal name. A doctor then certifies his death. Cardinal Camerlengo removes the pope's seal from his finger and destroys it in the presence of the cardinals present. Cardinal Camerlengo then announces the news of the Pope's death to the world and the Church. The body of the late pontiff is then placed in public view and buried in St. Peter's Basilica following the traditions and customs of the Church.

The process of electing the new Vicar of Christ begins with the gathering of the Cardinals under the age of eighty in the Sistine Chapel. All the procedures are held in privacy. At the beginning of the election, the cardinals elect a three-member committee from among themselves to oversee and scrutinize the election. After prayer and reflection, according to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, the Conclave Fathers write on the ballot paper the name of a cardinal who seems most fit to be the next Pontiff. Each elector holds up his folded ballot for all to see, approaches the altar, and says, “I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected.” He then places the ballot paper in silver and gilded bronze urn.

A three-member committee of cardinals announces the names on each ballot paper and pins the ballot papers to the needle. If no one gets a 2/3 majority, the election is declared invalid and the election continues until a 2/3 majority is obtained. At the end of each election, the ballots are burned with some chemicals and their smoke is emitted through the chimney. People gathered outside St. Peter's Basilica understand that a Pope is not elected if black smoke is emitted through the chimney. White smoke is emitted through the chimney if the pope is elected. Once a two-thirds majority is obtained, the Cardinal Dean asks the pope whether he accepts the election and the name he will adopt if consented. He is then led to a room known as the ‘Room of Tears’ adjoining the Sistine Chapel.

Cardinal Dean subsequently announces the election of the new Pontiff to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square and around the world with the words “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum... habemus papam (I announce to you a great joy... we have a pope)”. He also announces the new pope's real name and newly acquired Papal name. The new pope appears from the window of St. Peter's Basilica and blesses the faithful in the traditional “Urbi et Orbi" meaning ‘to the city (of Rome) and the world’. The Papal inauguration takes place the following Sunday.

The authority of St Peter's successor

Jesus Christ chose St. Peter to be the head of the Apostles. He was given this authority by the good shepherd to oversee the faithful in his Church, which would be built on the rock, Peter. This authority, which St. Peter received through his Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, is inherited by his successors. Thus, all the Pontiffs act as Pastors of the whole Church. ‘And I tell you that you are St. Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16: 18-19) and 'Feed my sheep.' (John 21:15). These words of Christ himself stand as the basis of the authority of St. Peter and his successors, the Popes.

Like the Apostles who worked as one community, the Pope, the successor of St. Peter, and the Apostles, with the bishops of the Church unanimously come together in Church as one community, performing the priestly, prophetic, and royal ministry of Christ entrusted to them. The Pope is the first among the bishops in equivalence. He with the other bishops exercises his authority in the Church and as St. Peter's successor, forms the basis of unity in the Church.

As Vicar of Christ and successor to St. Peter, the Pope receives the gift of ‘infallibility’ in matters of faith and morality. The Pope while assuming the throne of St. Peter, when teaching matters of faith and morality, by the grace of the Holy Spirit cannot err. This does not mean that all teachings are infallible. A pope’s private theological opinions are not infallible; only what he solemnly defines them as infallible is considered to be so.

Through his resignation, a pope can relinquish his position as St. Peter's successor in the Church. A vacancy in St. Peter's throne occurs upon the announcement of resignation at his discretion. In the history of the Church, only three popes have resigned so far. Pope Celestine V in 1294, Pope Gregory XII in 1409, and most recently on February 27, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI, St. Peter's 264th successor, also gave his resignation due to his advanced age and deteriorating health.

"The Church is not mine, it belongs to the Lord, and therefore he will not allow this ecclesiastical ship to sink into the depths, for he is at the helm of the boat, and he will guide and control it," said Benedict XVI in his farewell address. These are the words that underline the history of the Church from its inception to the present day, as well as its growth and survival. The life and history of each pope in the Church shows that Christ himself has led, still leads, and will lead the Church without faltering whatever the crisis it may encounter.

transl. SM