The Conclave, which meets in the Vatican today to elect a new pope, is likely to be brief. For the past hundred years, no conclave has exceeded four days, with two days being the most common. It seems unlikely that this one will be an exception.
Many Catholics, at least, hope as much. The cardinals will not wish to expose the divisions within the Church to the world through a prolonged and fractious conclave. Taking their time would suggest a Church paralysed by competing factions. Convening quickly would project unity and resolve.
The cardinals – mindful of both history and optics – will not wish to let ideological divisions harden into public spectacle
But this being the Catholic Church, nothing is certain: deliberations can range from hours to years.
Conclaves emerged from the 1059 papal bull of Pope Nicholas II, In Nomine Domini, which gave cardinals the sole responsibility for electing the pope.
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