"The pope doesn't have to be a great theologian - but he has to be in tune with the zeitgeist"

In May, the new Pope Leo XIV was chosen by the conclave, a secretive gathering of cardinals with a history stretching back many centuries. Matt Elton spoke to REBECCA RIST about the politics, controversies and far-reaching impacts of past papal elections

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Matt Elton Can you briefly explain the papal conclave, and who's involved?

Rebecca Rist It’s based on the system instituted by Pope Gregory X in the 13th century. After the death of a pontiff, members of the College of Cardinals — a select group of Catholic senior prelates appointed by the pope and aged under 80 - gather from all over the world to elect a replacement. These senior clergy, on whom the choice of the next pope hinges, are sequestered - locked in the Sistine Chapel [‘conclave’ derives from cum clave, ‘with a key’] - until they reach a two-thirds majority vote.

White smoke is then sent up to announce to Rome that the new pope has been selected, and he’s presented on the Vatican balcony with the words “Habemus Papam” [“We have a pope”].

How were popes selected before conclaves were introduced?

From the early Middle Ages, German kings and emperors had a hand in this - particularly Holy Roman Emperors after Charlemagne. Sometimes popes were acclaimed, put in by the Roman populace and the Roman clergy. And sometimes the Roman aristocracy was most influential: important families such as the Orsini, from whom five popes were appointed between the eighth and 18th centuries, as well as dozens of cardinals.