ELECTORAL REFORMS
from issue no. 01 - 2007
|
|
|
The pontifical documents on the Conclave in the last century
The two-thirds rule changed as follows
by Gianni Cardinale
PIUS X
«The third and usual way, or rather, the form of the election of the Roman Pontiff is what is described as polling. On this matter we confirm totally and repropose the law already wisely introduced by our precursors and kept afterwards for many centuries most scrupulously, whereby it is established that only he must be recognized as Roman Pontiff whom at least two thirds of the cardinals present in conclave have backed by means of a secret vote (Alexander III, Lateran Council III, ch. 6, const. Licet de vitanda I, 6; Gregory XV, const. Aeterni Patris, § 1)».
Constitution Vacante sede apostolica, n. 57. 25 December 1904.
PIUS XII
«The third and usual way, or rather, the form of the election of the Roman Pontiff is what is described as polling. On this matter we confirm totally the law already promulgated and kept afterwards for many centuries most scrupulously, which establishes that for the legitimate election of the bishop of Rome two thirds of the votes are necessary (Alexander III, Lateran Council III, ch. 6, const. Licet de vitanda I, 6; Gregory XV, const. Aeterni Patris, § 1), but we introduce this single innovation and we establish that to the two thirds of the votes be added a further vote without which the election is ipso iure null and void so that he only is to be considered Roman Pontiff whom at least two thirds of the cardinals, plus one, present in conclave have backed in secret vote».
Apostolic constitution Vacantis apostolicae sedis, n. 68, 8 December 1945.
JOHN XXIII
«The third and usual way, or rather, the form of the election of the Roman Pontiff is what is described as polling. On this matter we confirm totally the law already promulgated and kept afterwards for many centuries most scrupulously, which establishes that for the legitimate election of the bishop of Rome two thirds of the votes are necessary. If the number of the cardinals present cannot be divided in three equal parts for the validity of the election of the Supreme Pontiff another further vote is required. As is evident if the elected Pontiff is in the conclave he also must be calculated in the number of the cardinals».
Motu proprio Summi pontificis electio, n. XV, 5 September 1962.
PAUL VI
«The third and usual way of electing the Roman Pontiff is that of polling. On this matter we confirm in full the law anciently sanctioned and since then observed scrupulously, which establishes that for the legitimate election of the Supreme Pontiff two thirds of the votes are necessary. Likewise, we want to keep in force the rule, established by our precursor Pius XII, which prescribes that to the two thirds of the votes must always be added another vote (cf. Vacantis apostolicae sedis, n. 68). […]
At this point [after ten days of inconclusive polling] the Cardinal Chamberlain of Holy Roman Church will consult the electors about the way to proceed. The criterion to be fulfilled, for an effective poll, two thirds of the votes plus one, must not be abandoned; unless all the cardinal electors, unanimously, that is no one excepted, declare themselves in favor of a different criterion, that may consist of compromise (cf. n. 64) or of the overall majority of the votes, plus one, or in voting between the two who, in the poll immediately previous, won the greater numbers of votes».
Apostolic constitution Romano pontifici eligendo, nn. 65 and 76, 1 October 1975.
JOHN PAUL II
«The ways of election called per acclamationem seu inspirationem and per compromissum having been abolished, the form of election of the Roman Pontiff will be from now on entirely per scrutinium.
I establish, therefore, that for the legitimate election of the Roman Pontiff two thirds of the votes, calculated on the totality of the electors present, are required. […]
[After thirteen days of inconclusive polling] The cardinal electors will be invited by the Chamberlain to express views on the way to proceed, and procedure will follow what an overall majority of them have established.
Nevertheless there can be no retreat from the demand that a legitimate election be had either with the overall majority of the votes or with the vote on the two names only which, in the poll immediately previous, have obtained greater quantity of votes, requiring also in this second possibility only an overall majority».
Apostolic constitution Universi dominici gregis, nn. 62 and 75, 22 February 1996.
«The third and usual way, or rather, the form of the election of the Roman Pontiff is what is described as polling. On this matter we confirm totally and repropose the law already wisely introduced by our precursors and kept afterwards for many centuries most scrupulously, whereby it is established that only he must be recognized as Roman Pontiff whom at least two thirds of the cardinals present in conclave have backed by means of a secret vote (Alexander III, Lateran Council III, ch. 6, const. Licet de vitanda I, 6; Gregory XV, const. Aeterni Patris, § 1)».
Constitution Vacante sede apostolica, n. 57. 25 December 1904.
PIUS XII
«The third and usual way, or rather, the form of the election of the Roman Pontiff is what is described as polling. On this matter we confirm totally the law already promulgated and kept afterwards for many centuries most scrupulously, which establishes that for the legitimate election of the bishop of Rome two thirds of the votes are necessary (Alexander III, Lateran Council III, ch. 6, const. Licet de vitanda I, 6; Gregory XV, const. Aeterni Patris, § 1), but we introduce this single innovation and we establish that to the two thirds of the votes be added a further vote without which the election is ipso iure null and void so that he only is to be considered Roman Pontiff whom at least two thirds of the cardinals, plus one, present in conclave have backed in secret vote».
Apostolic constitution Vacantis apostolicae sedis, n. 68, 8 December 1945.
JOHN XXIII
«The third and usual way, or rather, the form of the election of the Roman Pontiff is what is described as polling. On this matter we confirm totally the law already promulgated and kept afterwards for many centuries most scrupulously, which establishes that for the legitimate election of the bishop of Rome two thirds of the votes are necessary. If the number of the cardinals present cannot be divided in three equal parts for the validity of the election of the Supreme Pontiff another further vote is required. As is evident if the elected Pontiff is in the conclave he also must be calculated in the number of the cardinals».
Motu proprio Summi pontificis electio, n. XV, 5 September 1962.
PAUL VI
«The third and usual way of electing the Roman Pontiff is that of polling. On this matter we confirm in full the law anciently sanctioned and since then observed scrupulously, which establishes that for the legitimate election of the Supreme Pontiff two thirds of the votes are necessary. Likewise, we want to keep in force the rule, established by our precursor Pius XII, which prescribes that to the two thirds of the votes must always be added another vote (cf. Vacantis apostolicae sedis, n. 68). […]
At this point [after ten days of inconclusive polling] the Cardinal Chamberlain of Holy Roman Church will consult the electors about the way to proceed. The criterion to be fulfilled, for an effective poll, two thirds of the votes plus one, must not be abandoned; unless all the cardinal electors, unanimously, that is no one excepted, declare themselves in favor of a different criterion, that may consist of compromise (cf. n. 64) or of the overall majority of the votes, plus one, or in voting between the two who, in the poll immediately previous, won the greater numbers of votes».
Apostolic constitution Romano pontifici eligendo, nn. 65 and 76, 1 October 1975.
JOHN PAUL II
«The ways of election called per acclamationem seu inspirationem and per compromissum having been abolished, the form of election of the Roman Pontiff will be from now on entirely per scrutinium.
I establish, therefore, that for the legitimate election of the Roman Pontiff two thirds of the votes, calculated on the totality of the electors present, are required. […]
[After thirteen days of inconclusive polling] The cardinal electors will be invited by the Chamberlain to express views on the way to proceed, and procedure will follow what an overall majority of them have established.
Nevertheless there can be no retreat from the demand that a legitimate election be had either with the overall majority of the votes or with the vote on the two names only which, in the poll immediately previous, have obtained greater quantity of votes, requiring also in this second possibility only an overall majority».
Apostolic constitution Universi dominici gregis, nn. 62 and 75, 22 February 1996.
