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Dinner parties, listening and lobbying. What goes on behind closed doors to elect a pope

In March 2013, cardinals in Rome engaged in private meetings and dinner parties to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI, leading to Jorge Mario Bergoglio becoming Pope Francis on the fifth ballot.
Reform-Minded Europeans, including retired Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, pushed Bergoglio’s candidacy amid divisions among Italian cardinals and a fragmented vote.
Cardinals met daily in Vatican auditoriums to discuss Church needs and leadership qualities, with many over 80 attending open meetings but only those under 80 voting in the Sistine Chapel conclave.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols described attentive listening among electors, emphasizing a search for a pope combining deep faith and openness and continuity with prior papacies, quoting, "Not a boys' brigade that marches in step."
The conclave outcome suggested a desire to consolidate Francis’ reforming papacy, prioritizing the poor and marginalized, while rooting initiatives for stable, ongoing Church reflection and direction.

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National Catholic Reporter

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Personality counts as much as policy in a conclave

The cardinals will elect a person next week, not a platform. So, while they are discussing issues facing the church and the world, they are also assessing each other's personalities and character.

2 days ago

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Channel News Asia

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Dinner parties, listening and lobbying: How does the pope get elected?

ROME: Rome is bustling with jasmine blooming and tourists swarming, but behind closed doors, these are the days of dinner parties, coffee klatches and private meetings as cardinals in town to elect a succes

2 days ago·Singapore

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