Bergoglio's Rising: Conclave is starting (2013) Part II

Extra Omnes

That morning, after passing through security, Bergoglio left his suitcase and went to his room, which, as determined by lottery, was room 207 in Santa Marta.

This morning at 10:00, over 150 cardinals, both electors and those above eighty, processed into St. Peter’s Basilica for a solemn Latin Mass attended by around 7,000 people, including clergy, religious, lay faithful, diplomats, and global media. Thunder rolled outside as heavy rain fell. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI followed the event from Castel Gandolfo. When the Mass ended, the cardinals processed out amid camera flashes, the faithful quietly wondering who among them would be the next pope. In the sacristy, after vestments were removed, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia approached Bergoglio with a sudden remark: “You could be the next pope!”

The historical record offers some perspective on the length of the conclave. It shows that eight conclaves were held over the past hundred years, and most were short. The longest was for the election of Pius XI in 1922, which took fourteen votes. The most rapid came on the eve of World War II in 1939, when Pius XII was elected in three ballots. Since then, John XXIII was elected in 1958 after eleven ballots, Paul VI in 1963 after five ballots, John Paul I after four and John Paul II after eight—both in 1978—and Benedict XVI in 2005 after four. This would suggest that the 2013 conclave could also be short, but cardinals seemed unsure about this as they began...

O’Connell, Gerard. The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave That Changed History. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2019.

In Le Monde, Stephanie Le Bars wrote about ten cardinals who could become pope: Ravasi, Scola, Schönborn, Ouellet, Scherer, Sarah, Tagle, Ranjith, O'Malley and Erdo. 

With minutes to go before the conclave began, the windows of the cardinals' rooms in Santa Marta were tightly locked and the blinds closed. All contact with the outside world was cut off; those inside would now shoulder the burden of their sacred duty alone. Here, in the heart of the Vatican, a sacred silence reigned. The cardinals, electors, and everyone involved in the conclave process were completely cut off from communication. Security was as impenetrable as an iron wall, protecting both Santa Marta and all the paths leading from there to the Sistine Chapel. At lunchtime, the electors gathered in groups in the dining hall. Those experiencing the conclave for the first time were amazed by the uniqueness of the environment.

Today's conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel, famous for its historic atmosphere. However, when we look back at history, we see that popes were not always elected in this sacred place. Over the centuries, popes were elected in different places and by different methods. For example, in 731, Pope Gregory III was elected by ‘acclamation,’ that is, by the enthusiastic approval of the people. In 1585, Sixtus V ascended to the papacy ‘almost by inspiration,’ that is, through a special spiritual sign. However, in general, popes are elected by secret ballot. The first papal election by secret ballot took place in 1276 in Arezzo, 135 miles north of Rome. Since then, almost all papal elections have been conducted by conclave since 1294. The election held in 2013 will be the 75th conclave. Almost all papal elections have been held in Italy, mostly in Rome. Fifty-one conclaves took place in the Vatican, and 24 of these were held in the historic Sistine Chapel. Additionally, ten elections between 1550 and 1700 were held in the Pauline Chapel in the Vatican. Thus, this election will be the 52nd conclave in the Vatican and the 25th conclave in the Sistine Chapel. A new chapter is about to be opened in the depths of history.

These electors came from 48 different countries and five continents. There were 60 cardinals from Europe, 28 of whom were Italian. There were 19 from Latin America, 14 from North America (11 from the United States and 3 from Canada), 11 from Africa, 10 from Asia, and only 1 from Oceania (Australia) participating in this historic vote.

Additionally, 18 were members of religious communities and apostolic life communities who had dedicated their lives to God. Among them were one Jesuit, three Little Brothers of St. Francis, one Capuchin Franciscan, four Salesians, two Dominicans, one Redemptorist, one Lazarist, one Sulpician, one Oblate of Mary Immaculate, one Scalabrinian, one Schönstatt Institute priest, and one Mariamite Maronite.

Long tables at the Sistine Chapel await thearrival of cardinals for the conclave to elect the next pope, Tuesday, May 6,2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

The cardinal electors, dressed in red robes, were preparing to be taken from Santa Marta to the Pauline Chapel. The Pauline Chapel was built by Pope Paul IV Farnese between 1537 and 1540. It was located at the top of the Scala Regia, or Royal Staircase, designed by Bernini, which connected the Vatican Palace to St. Peter's Basilica. When they arrived at the chapel, the cardinals gathered together and waited for the ceremony to begin, admiring Michelangelo's two magnificent works on the walls: ‘The Conversion of Saint Paul’ and ‘The Crucifixion of Saint Peter.’ These works were commissioned by Paul III and created after Michelangelo completed ‘The Last Judgment’ in the Sistine Chapel.

By now, most of the cardinals had decided who to give their first vote to. Many also had second and even third choices in mind, as they would need to turn to alternatives if their first candidate failed to gain support. However, as in the past, those who were undecided would typically cast their first vote for a name they admired, respected, or wished to encourage. The announcement that divided their thoughts signalled the start of the ceremony. This ceremony, rich in history, ritual, and pomp, began at 4:30 PM with a grand ceremony at the Pauline Chapel, accompanied by prayers. In accordance with the Ordo Rituum Conclavis, a brief address was given by the cardinal.

Then the cardinals slowly walked towards the Sistine Chapel. At the front of the procession was the cross, followed by the Sistine choir, then two ceremonial officers, two sacristans, and the cardinal dean's religious assistant. Next came the Secretary of the College of Cardinals, Archbishop Baldisseri; Cardinal Grech, who would lead the meditation; and the cardinal electors. They were arranged in hierarchical order and by age: first the cardinal deacons, then the cardinal bishops, and finally the cardinal archbishops. A deacon followed them, carrying the Book of the Gospel.

During the procession, the famous Sistine Chapel Choir guided the cardinals with Latin hymns. They first sang the Litany of the Saints, calling upon the intercession of all the saints. Then rose the Veni Creator, a hymn from the 9th century, asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This was the moment for the cardinal electors to prepare themselves for the monumental decision they were about to make ,for the universal Church and the world.

They entered the Sistine Chapel in pairs. Walking to the center, they paid homage to the crucifix before taking their predetermined seats along the chapel’s two sides.

Many cardinals, especially those seeing it for the first time, gazed with awe and reverence at the stunning frescoes adorning the chapel walls. These masterpieces were commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV and painted by renowned Renaissance artists such as Botticelli, Perugino, Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio, and Rosselli. The frescoes depicted scenes from the lives of Moses and Jesus. Completed in 1482, Sixtus IV celebrated the chapel’s first Mass there on August 15, 1483. The very first conclave held in the Sistine Chapel took place in 1513. As the cardinals took their places, their eyes were drawn upward to the magnificent ceiling, the work of Michelangelo, one of the greatest masters of the Italian Renaissance. It was filled with scenes from the Book of Genesis. The most famous of these is the image of God reaching out to touch Adam’s finger during Creation, painted between 1508 and 1512 under the patronage of Pope Julius II.

In front of every cardinal in the Sistine Chapel were three important texts: the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, which governs the papal election process; the Ordo Rituum, detailing the conclave rituals; and the Liturgy of the Hours prayer book. Additionally, a list containing the names of all cardinal electors was placed before them. After all cardinals took their seats, the conclave’s presiding officer, Cardinal Re, read aloud the oath pledging to follow all the rules of the papal election and to keep complete secrecy about everything that happened during the conclave. This oath forbade leaking any information about the election, prohibited any audio or video recordings, and barred any outside interference in the process. Breaking the oath carried an automatic penalty of excommunication.

Following the cardinal dean’s reading of the oath, each cardinal, in order of hierarchy, went to the open Bible placed in the center of the Sistine Chapel and repeated the oath personally, placing his hand on the book. This entire process was broadcast live by Vatican Television.

Once the oaths were completed, Monsignor Marini, the ceremony’s master, loudly commanded, “Extra omnes!” (“Everyone out!”). Millions around the world watched this thrilling moment. Except for those who were not allowed to vote, Monsignor Marini, and Cardinal Prosper Stanley Grech, everyone else left the chapel immediately. Marini then slowly closed the two massive wooden doors of the Sistine Chapel. Outside the doors, two Swiss Guards stood firmly, dressed in their colorful uniforms and holding long halberds, allowing no one to enter.

The Two Popes

All 115 cardinal electors wrote the name of their chosen candidate on their ballots, carefully folded them, and then proceeded one by one to the podium to cast their votes in order. Each cardinal held their ballot between their thumb and index finger, raised it clearly so everyone could see, and then walked towards the altar where a silver and gold-plated urn decorated with the figure of the Good Shepherd awaited. This urn was crafted by the Italian sculptor Cecco Bonanotte.

Upon reaching the altar, beneath the breathtaking sight of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, each cardinal loudly and clearly proclaimed the oath:
“I cast my vote for the one whom I believe to be worthy before God.”

Afterwards, they placed their ballot on the gold-plated plate atop the altar, tilted it gently to allow the ballot to fall into the urn, and finally paid their respects to the crucifix before returning to their seat. The next cardinal then repeated the same ritual.

Once all 115 electors had cast their votes, three officials approached the podium to begin the count. The tension was palpable; everyone held their breath for this historic moment. The first official shook the urn to mix the ballots, using the same urn from the previous conclave. Then, the second official took each ballot and transferred it to a second, empty urn. This step verified that the number of ballots matched the number of electors if there was any discrepancy, that round would be declared invalid.

When the count was complete, the three officials sat at the table in front of the altar. The first opened each ballot, quietly read the candidate’s name, and took note. The second repeated the process, and the third announced the name aloud to the entire assembly before recording it on a specially prepared sheet of paper. From the outside, the windows of the Sistine Chapel were completely darkened. However, given advances in modern communication technology and risks of electronic eavesdropping, the security measures from the 2005 conclave were deemed insufficient. For the 2013 conclave, additional precautions were introduced, including Faraday cages and other cutting-edge devices designed to block smartphone signals and prevent electronic surveillance.

To secure the votes, the third official pierced the word “Eligo” (“I elect”) on each ballot with a needle and thread, binding the ballots together. Once all were read, knots were tied at the ends of the threads, and the linked ballots were set aside.

The Two Popes

The third and final phase of the voting, the counting of the ballots, had begun. The results brought many surprising moments. Before the conclave, many cardinals had expected a wide distribution of votes in the first ballot, but no one anticipated just how broad it would be: a total of twenty-three cardinals received at least one vote, meaning one in every five cardinals was supported. Moreover, four of them received ten or more votes, while another received four votes.

Cardinal Scola led with thirty votes, though he did not receive as many as some cardinals and the Italian media had predicted. The biggest surprise was Cardinal Bergoglio from Argentina, who came in a close second with twenty-six votes. In fact, he should have had twenty-seven, but one ballot mistakenly recorded his name as “Broglio.” This was an extremely promising start for the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Coming in third was Ouellet, who performed better than expected, garnering twenty-two votes and establishing himself as a strong candidate. O’Malley was a surprise with ten votes, marking the highest number ever received by an American candidate. On the other hand, the highly promising Brazilian Cardinal Scherer received only four votes, which was unexpectedly low. Outside these frontrunners, five cardinals, Schönborn, Turkson, Pell, Monsengwo Pasinya, and Dolan, each received two votes. Another thirteen cardinals garnered a single vote each, including the misspelt “Broglio,” which was clearly meant for Bergoglio.

The voting process concluded with the burning of the ballots. After double-checking the count reports, officials took the ballots and records to one of two specially prepared ovens in the back left corner of the Sistine Chapel. These two ovens were connected to a narrow chimney that led outside, a symbol watched by the world for centuries to see if a new pope had been elected. This tradition dates back to the 18th century when the master of ceremonies decided to announce the results to the world by the colour of the smoke, black or white, rising from the ballots’ burning. (Following the rules, the ballots from this first vote were burned in the old oven used in every conclave since 1939.)

PART 1: In Bergoglio’s Shadow: The Conclave After Ratzinger

References

·   O’Connell, Gerard. The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave That Changed History. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2019.

·      Pope Francis. Life: My Story Through History―An Autobiography of the Life and Legacy of Pope Francis. Thomas Nelson, 2022.

In Bergoglio’s Shadow: The Conclave After Ratzinger Part I

“Hello?”

“Your Eminence, it’s Gerry. I’m calling you from Rome. I hope I’m not disturbing you. The pope has resigned.”

The process began like this. The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI sent shockwaves through the Vatican and the Catholic world. For the first time in hundreds of years, a pope was stepping down from his position. "For a moment I was paralyzed." Francis would later use these words to describe the shock he felt.

He received the news not in Rome, but in Argentina. It was an ordinary day. The phone rang. The caller was his long-time friend, journalist Gerry O’Connell. When Gerry said, “The pope has resigned,” Francis was stunned. The sentence didn’t fully register at first because it was not just any piece of news.

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. This was something I had never expected to hear in my lifetime: a papal resignation, though technically allowed under canon law, felt unimaginable. In those first few moments, I thought to myself, “I must have misunderstood. This can’t be real.”

That morning, Gerry had only said those few words, then quickly hung up, promising to call back later. He had a lot of work to do. Two or three hours later, he rang again. This time, he explained everything clearly. The resignation would take effect on February 28, at 8:00 PM. The conclave to elect the next pope would begin shortly after March 10.

Get your tea or coffee ready; we are about to take a long journey…

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, second from left, travels on the subway in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2008. (AP Photo/Pablo Leguizamon, File)

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio arrived in Rome just before Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation. He had made the long journey from Buenos Aires, as always, without ceremony flying economy class.

Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation placed the College of Cardinals in an unusual and historically unprecedented situation. For the first time in over seven centuries, a pope was leaving his office not by death, but by choice. This extraordinary decision gave a different tone to the “General Congregation” meetings held before the conclave. Unlike in the past, when quiet alliances and familiar names dominated the room, the atmosphere now felt more open and more free. For once, there were no fixed scripts. No secret promises. Just a group of men trying to discern the future of the Church. Many names were mentioned as papabili potential candidates for the papacy. Some attracted media attention, others were whispered about in back rooms. But no clear favourite had emerged. The picture was so unclear that even the name of Bergoglio long overlooked by many had yet to be spoken aloud. And in the middle of all this uncertainty, an Argentine cardinal, dressed plainly and carrying no air of ambition, was quietly moving toward a moment that would change history.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s name started to come up often as a possible candidate for pope. However, some political groups in Argentina worked to stop him from being chosen. I will write about that process in a separate blog. In the 2005 conclave, when Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope, Bergoglio was also one of the important candidates. But would he be among the candidates again in the 2013 conclave? An anonymous cardinal shared what happened in 2005 with the Italian journalist Lucio Brunelli. Brunelli published parts of this diary in the autumn issue of Limes, an Italian geopolitical magazine. According to the cardinal, the first vote was very divided. About 30 out of 115 cardinals received votes. But only seven cardinals got a significant number of votes. This shows the hidden balance and surprises in the election process.

According to The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave That Changed History by Gerard O’Connell: 

"In the first round of voting, Cardinal Ratzinger seemed almost unstoppable with 47 votes. However, there was a significant group opposing him, and they voted for different candidates. Leading this group was Jorge Mario Bergoglio with 10 votes. He was followed by Martini with 9 votes, Ruini with 6, Sodano with 4, Rodríguez Maradiaga with 3, and Tettamanzi with 2 votes.

In the second round, the numbers shifted: Ratzinger increased his votes to 65, while Bergoglio received 35.

By the third round, Ratzinger had 72 votes, just 5 short of the required 77 for election, and Bergoglio had 40 votes. This was enough to block the German cardinal’s election. One of the key moments in the conclave was this deadlock. Later, during lunch at Santa Marta, Ratzinger’s supporters—especially Latin American Cardinal López Trujillo—tried to convince the region’s cardinals to vote for Ratzinger. Meanwhile, Cardinal Martini suggested that if opposition continued and the election became deadlocked, a compromise candidate could be found. The diary notes that tensions ran high during this lunch, with various discussions taking place. Some electors believed Bergoglio realized that if Ratzinger’s election was blocked, the conclave could be prolonged and might lead to divisions within the Church. He also understood that this situation could result in the election of a lower-profile third candidate. It is said that because of this, Bergoglio withdrew from the contest to preserve Church unity.

In the fourth round, as votes were counted, Ratzinger took notes and around 5:30 PM was elected with 84 votes. Bergoglio received 26 votes. Cardinals Schönborn, Biffi, and unexpectedly Law from Boston each received one vote. Two other votes were cast but not recorded. 

When Ratzinger reached the required 77 votes, there was a brief silence followed by long, heartfelt applause. Cardinal Danneels’ remark, “This conclave tells us the Church is not yet ready for a Latin American pope,” captured the mood of the moment."

1 of 5 | FILE - Pope Francis, left, and Pope Benedict XVI, meet each other on the occasion of the elevation of five new cardinals at the Vatican, on June 28, 2017. Pope Francis has exposed the political "maneuvers" to sway votes during the past two conclaves and denied he is planning to reform the process to elect a pope in a new book-length interview published Tuesday April 2, 2024. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool photo via AP, File)

Towards the Conclave

After the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, a sense of uncertainty spread throughout the Catholic world. Cardinal electors began arriving in Rome, and before the conclave began, they met with one another, discussed possible candidates, and reflected on the kind of leader who could open the door to a new era for the Church. No one knew who would emerge as the leading figure, but a few names were gaining attention. One of them was Cardinal Wilfrid Napier from South Africa. Known for his dynamic personality, frank speech, and views that reflected the spirit of the African continent, Napier believed that the next pope should be “young, spiritually deep, open to reform, and in harmony with the world.” In his view, the ideal candidate would be in his sixties, energetic, humble, and someone with a genuine relationship with Jesus.

Another notable name was Cardinal Francis George of Chicago. George pointed out that this time, the list of candidates was more serious than in past conclaves. “Now we have not only names people want to see,” he said, “but candidates who can truly lead the Church.” For George, the next pope had to be a good administrator, sensitive to the needs of the poor, capable of representing the universal Church, and a person of strong character. As the cardinals shared their thoughts, it became clear that this conclave was not only about electing a spiritual leader it was about finding someone who could also reform the Roman Curia and bring real change to the governance of the Church.

The words of Cardinal Telesphore Toppo captured the spirit of the upcoming conclave. Hailing from the Indian state of Jharkhand, Toppo was the world’s first tribal cardinal and he had just arrived in Rome, carrying more questions than answers. He didn’t claim to know who the next pope would be, but he had a clear conviction: a pope is not merely the result of personal virtues, but of a strong local Church. His view echoed the recent history of the papacy: John Paul II had emerged from the rooted Catholicism of Poland, and Benedict XVI from Bavaria, a bastion of German Catholic tradition. For Toppo, regions like the Philippines, where the faith was vibrant and united, might one day give rise to a pope. In this context, one figure stood out: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, whom Toppo called “Asia’s number one.” But Tagle wasn’t the only name being whispered. As Toppo put it, while the guidance of the Holy Spirit was the official principle, cardinals often tried to listen for that Spirit’s voice even in the murmurs of the room.

When it was announced that the conclave would begin on March 12, Italian newspapers screamed the headlines with dramatic flair. That same day, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio gave a short but powerful speech during the General Congregations a moment that shifted the entire atmosphere of the hall.

When he finished speaking, there was silence. Then, applause. Then came the quiet, focused glances as if something had suddenly changed in the minds of a few:

“Could this be the one?”

Years later, Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor would recall the moment: “I believe that some cardinals heard an inner voice. Maybe this man was the one to lead the Church into a new direction.” The conversations behind the scenes began to stir. That very afternoon, Bergoglio was having a modest lunch with his old friend, Cardinal Lozano Barragán. No one told him that his name was no longer whispered, but spoken out loud. Meanwhile, in other places for instance, at the apartment of Curia heavyweight Cardinal Attilio Nicora about fifteen cardinals had gathered to "establish a direction" before the first vote. Some were from Europe, but most had come from other continents. One name had already emerged: Bergoglio.

That evening’s estimates suggested he would enter the conclave with at least 25 votes. Compared to Ratzinger’s commanding lead in 2005, this was a strong base. Yet nothing was certain. As Cardinal Coccopalmerio would later reflect: “Sometimes it’s a feeling, an inner voice… Maybe it’s the whisper of God. We think it’s just our own thought but maybe it isn’t.”

Coming Next: The Conclave Begins

In the second part of this series, we will walk through the 2013 conclave step by step: the vote counts, the early surprises, the shifting alliances, the tense lunchtimes, the moments of hesitation and finally, the arrival of that timeless declaration:

“Habemus Papam.”

We will follow it all, line by line, and uncover what happened behind the curtain.

References

·   O’Connell, Gerard. The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave That Changed History. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2019.

·      Pope Francis. Life: My Story Through History―An Autobiography of the Life and Legacy of Pope Francis. Thomas Nelson, 2022.

Picture 1: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-10/tagle-why-holy-see-is-renewing-the-provisional-agreement.html

Picture 2: Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan speaks to CNA at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, Nov. 6, 2014. | Bohumil Petrik/CNA.

Picture 3: Cardinal Wilfrid Napier speaks at the Vatican Press Office on Oct 14 2014. Credit Bohumil Petrik/CNA

Picture 4:  Cardinal Francis George retired as Chicago archbishop in the fall of 2014.  (Paul Beaty / Associated Press

Picture 5: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-02/patent-vaccine-coronavirus-turkson.html

Picture 6: https://www.vaticannews.va/pt/igreja/news/2024-08/cardeal-scherer-coragem-crer.html

Picture 7: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/pope-francis-profile-jorge-mario-bergoglio-a-humble-man-who-moved-out-of-a-palace-into-an-apartment-cooks-his-own-meals-and-travels-by-bus-8533450.html