conclaves

Conclaves are private assemblies convened to deliberate and decide on a specific matter. The term derives from Latin conclāvis, literally a room shut off with a key, and historically referred to a space used for secret meetings. In common usage, the term is most closely associated with the papal conclave, the process by which a new pope is elected.

A papal conclave is convened after the death or resignation of a pope. Cardinal electors under the age of 80 are secluded within the Vatican and barred from outside contact until a pope is elected. Voting is conducted by secret ballot, and a candidate must receive two-thirds of the votes to be elected. If no candidate achieves the threshold in a given round, further ballots are conducted. Ballots are burned after each round, with white smoke signaling a successful election and black smoke indicating that no decision has yet been reached. When voting ends, the senior cardinal deacon announces the new pope with the Habemus Papam formula.

The rules governing papal conclaves are set by papal constitutions and apostolic norms. The process emphasizes secrecy, oath-taking on the part of electors, and careful procedures to prevent outside influence. The period during which a pope is not in office is called sede vacante.

Although most commonly associated with the Catholic Church, conclaves can denote private, deliberative meetings in other contexts, but the papal election remains the best-known use of the term.