OATHS AT THE CONCLAVE: CANON LAW AND CEREMONIAL ETIQUETTE

Abstract

The article examines the oaths that are part of the conclave, the election of the Pope. The conclave is accompanied by three oaths of the cardinals. In addition, the officials and staff who support the work of the conclave also take oaths, and their oaths relate to ensuring the secrecy of everything that happens at the conclave – the prohibition of recording, listening and disclosure, and contains an indication of the punishment for its violation – automatic excommunication. The first oath of the cardinals is taken by all members of the Collegium Cardinalium Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae who arrived to participate in the conclave convened after the death of the previous Pontiff (both those who will participate in the election and others who have lost this right due to reaching the voting age limit). It contains an obligation to keep everything related to the election of the Pontiff secret. The second oath is publicly taken in the Sistine Chapel immediately before the election by only the cardinal-electors, and its special part is a public commitment to faithfully execute the Munus Petrinum and defend the Holy See, which actually applies to one of them, the future Supreme Pontiff, who is not required to take an inaugural oath after his election.The first and second oaths of the cardinals consist of a collective and an individual part. The third oath is taken individually by the cardinals when they place a ballot (card) with the name of the person for whom they are voting into the ballot box. article 66 of the constitution – as translated into English. This oath is repeated in each subsequent round of voting. The ritual after the election of the Pope includes a free-form “kiss of peace” by the cardinals. The inaugural Mass contains a rite of obedience to the new head of the Church by representatives of the clergy and the laity, symbolizing the historical ritual of homage.