Conclave 1492: The Election of a Renaissance Pope The Situation It is August 1492. Pope Innocent VIII has died. Now the Sacred College of Cardinals must meet to choose his successor. The office of Pope is a holy calling, born of the legacy of Saint Peter the first Bishop of Rome, who was one of Christ’s most trusted apostles. The Pope is therefore God’s vicar on Earth, the temporal representation of divine authority and the pinnacle of the church hierarchy. However, the position has also become a political role, with the Holy Father a temporal ruler of the Papal States in the center of the Italian peninsula and charged with protecting the interests of the Church across Christendom. As such, the position requires not only spiritual vision but political acumen too, and, at times ruthlessness and deception, to maintain the church’s position as a secular and spiritual power in Europe. The Cardinals must therefore consider both a candidate’s spiritual and political qualifications to lead the Church. Although the conclave is a spiritual gathering, the political situation in Europe, and the Italian peninsula in particular, cannot be ignored. The Papal States, ruled directly by the Pope through his governors, often act as a buffer between the Kingdom of Naples, the Duchy of Milan, and various other parties. Whoever is elected Pope must therefore be a sound spiritual leader for the church and an astute secular ruler of its temporal possessions. The new Pope will need to balance the claims of France, Milan, Naples, Venice, Genoa, Florence, and Spain, among others, to parts of the Italian peninsula, Europe, and the wider world. There is also the ever-present threat of invasion by the Muslim Turks, who conquered Constantinople in 1453 and now have a foothold in the Balkans. Political failure could cost the church valuable territory and influence, while spiritual failure to reform and lead the church could cost it the loyalty of faithful Catholics across Europe. Each Cardinal has their own interests, loyalties, and agendas going into the conclave. Some are the junior members of Europe's ruling dynasties (such as the Sforza, Medici, Carafa, Orsini, and Colonna) and thus have family interests to defend, while others have financial interests to protect, such as the accumulation of lucrative church offices. Few, even in the Sacred College, are without sin. Many Cardinals, have moral failings to cover up, such as common law wives, mistresses, homosexual relationships, illegitimate children, and a variety of other past crimes. Some Cardinals are truly devout men, who wish to serve God and choose the best leader for the church, but many are men of their age, more concerned with worldly things than spiritual. Despite their different backgrounds and motivations, every Cardinal cares deeply about the Catholic Church as an institution and wants a strong leader to guide it—although most would also like the choice to benefit their own interests in some way. Some of the more pious Cardinals may choose to back the candidate who will be the best leader of the church, while others may find it expedient to back the candidate who will do the most to advance their shared political interests. Still others may find themselves beholden to a candidate who either possesses damning information about them or offers them lucrative rewards for their support. While each Cardinal is a prince of the church they are not all on equal footing. Some are more experienced, better connected, wealthier, or more cunning than others. As such, not every cardinal is papabile, a natural candidate for election. However, there are other offices to which Cardinals may aspire, such as Vice-Chancellor (Secretary of State), Dean of the Sacred College (Presiding Officer), Sub-Dean, and Camerlengo (Treasurer). Each of these offices is in the gift of the newly elected Pope and candidates may offer the promise of appointments to these offices (among other things) in attempt to win the election. The Setting There are currently 27 Cardinals of the Catholic Church, 23 of whom will be in attendance for the conclave. Four Cardinals (2 Spanish and 2 French) are unable to attend for various reasons. Tradition dictates that the college meets in the Apostolic Palace, where it will be sequestered during deliberation and voting, with no one allowed to enter or leave until a new Pope has been chosen. For the first time, the venue for the conclave will be the Sistine Chapel. Previously known as the Cappella Magna, the Sistine Chapel has since been renamed for Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it from 1477 to 1482. During that restoration a team of Renaissance painters created a series of frescos on the walls depicting the Life of Moses and the Life of Christ. The ceiling is painted azure blue with golden stars spread across it to represent the heavenly host. Michelangelo’s famous fresco will not be painted over it for almost another twenty years. Within the walls of this chapel the princes of the church will seek guidance of the Holy Spirit to decide who should lead the universal church. Each Cardinal has their own role description, noting their background, goals, and motivations going into the conclave. Pedagogical Goals This microgame is meant to be played during one class period (75–90 minutes), with little or no student preparation beforehand.1 It is best suited to a course covering the history of Christianity, the Catholic Church, or Western Culture during the Renaissance/Reformation period. Some familiarity with the role and importance of the Papacy is presumed. The game shows students that the Renaissance Catholic Church was as much a secular organization as it was spiritual, with political concerns often undermining religious ones at the upper echelons of its leadership. The moral compromises to which the curia was susceptible were a symptom of larger problems within the Catholic Church. Some endeavored to reform these from within, while others later attacked them from without, leading to the outbreak of the Protestant Reformation within twenty years of this meeting. While playing their roles students should be encouraged to think critically about the motivations and goals of their individual characters. Do they reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Apostles or the values of political pragmatism and individualism that found full expression during the Renaissance? 1 Instructors wishing to do so may extend the game to two or three class meetings and assign preparatory reading in advance that students will use in the course of their debates. See the section below on "Extended Gameplay & Supplementary Readings." Procedure The conclave will follow the procedure outlined below until a candidate has received 2/3 (14) of the Cardinal electors’ votes. 1. Papabile sermons. Short speeches given by those identifying themselves as papabile, candidates for election. These should be prepared in advance and delivered without using notes. Should emphasize why you are the best person to lead the Church. (Your role sheet will say if you are papabile.) 2. The Assembly. Follow steps A–D below, proceeding to step E once a pope is elected. a. Discussion (5 minutes). Cardinals are free to have informal discussions within the chapel in order to discuss issues facing the church, campaign for various candidates, and determine who is voting for whom. b. Speeches (optional, ~3 minutes). If anyone wishes to make a public statement prior to balloting they should do so after open discussion has ended and before balloting begins. c. Balloting (~3 minutes). After discussion or speeches each Cardinal will write the name of their favored candidate on a slip of paper, fold it, and drop it into the balloting chalice. Every Cardinal must cast a ballot and all votes are secret. d. Scrutiny (~5 minutes). After all ballots have been cast, three scrutinizers will be chosen at random from among the Sacred College by drawing names from a hat. Papabile are not eligible. 1. The first scrutinizer will empty the chalice and count the ballots without opening them to ensure that the number cast corresponds to the number of Cardinals present. If there are fewer than 23 then all are destroyed without tallying the votes and balloting must take place again. 2. The second scrutinizer will then read aloud the name written on each ballot and hand it back to the first scrutinizer for confirmation. 3. The third scrutinizer will make an official record of the votes as they are read aloud and then report the final tally to the college. e. Election. When all the votes have been tallied, if a candidate has received 2/3 (14) of the Cardinal electors' votes the third scrutinizer will announce the fact. If not, then steps A–C will be repeated until a new Pope has been elected. 3. Proclamation of the Holy Father. The Dean (Giuliano della Rovere), Protopriest (Girolamo Basso della Rovere), Protodeacon (Piccolomini), and the Camerlengo (Riario) will then approach the newly elected pontiff and ask "Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?" to which tradition requires that the Pontiff-elect refuse the offer twice before accepting the third time. If one of these four has been elected Pope they will not be replaced for this step; the other three will proceed. 4. Taking of the Papal Name. The newly elected pope is then asked "By what name do you wish to be known?" At which point they should reply with their chosen papal name. 5. Announcement of Offices. Finally, the new Pope identifies the Cardinals who will hold the offices of Vice-Chancellor, Dean, Sub-Dean, and Camerlengo. Some Cardinals have appointment to these offices as their end-game goals, so these appointments are significant.