A conclave capitulation is a capitulation

Capitulation (treaty)

A capitulation , or ahidnâme, is a treaty or unilateral contract by which a sovereign state relinquishes jurisdiction within its borders over the subjects of a foreign state...

 drawn up by the College of Cardinals

College of Cardinals

The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...

 during a papal conclave

Papal conclave

A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...

, attempting to constrain the actions of the Pope

Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...

 elected by the conclave. Generally, all cardinals would swear to uphold it if elected Pope, and the capitulation would be finished before the first scrutiny (ballot). Capitulations were part and parcel of a strategy of the College of Cardinals to limit papal supremacy

Papal supremacy

Papal supremacy refers to the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church that the pope, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ and as pastor of the entire Christian Church, has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered: that, in brief,...

 and to "make the Church an oligarchy

Oligarchy

Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...

 instead of a monarchy

Monarchy

A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...

."

History

The College had made informal attempts to influence the actions of Popes before drafting formal capitulations. The first capitulation was drafted in the conclave of 1352, which elected, Pope Innocent VI

Pope Innocent VI

Pope Innocent VI , born Étienne Aubert; his father was Adhemar Aubert seigneur de Montel-De-Gelas in Limousin province. His niece was Catherine Aubert, Dame de Boutheon, also the wife of Randon II baron de Joyeuse; she is La Fayette's ancestor...

, and most conclaves for the next 300 years produced similar documents.

In 1353, Innocent VI declared the first capitulation invalid with his Apostolic Constitution

Apostolic constitution

An apostolic constitution is the highest level of decree issued by the Pope. The use of the term constitution comes from Latin constitutio, which referred to any important law issued by the Roman emperor, and is retained in church documents because of the inheritance that the canon law of the...

, Sollicitudo, referencing a Constitution of Pope Gregory X

Pope Gregory X

Pope Blessed Gregory X , born Tebaldo Visconti, was Pope from 1271 to 1276. He was elected by the papal election, 1268–1271, the longest papal election in the history of the Roman Catholic Church....

, Contingit, prohibiting papal conclaves from dealing with issues other than the election of a Pope. This trend would continue for most future capitulations, which were generally disregarded. For this reason, papal historian Frederic Baumgartner calls capitulations "an exercise in futility." Another papal historian, Van Dyke, surmises that by the election of Pope Sixtus IV

Pope Sixtus IV

Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...

 (1471), "all the Popes for forty years had signed and promptly broken" the "Capitulation of the Conclave." Jugie considers the "regular recourse to capitulation" to be "above all, an admission of weakness."

Although not the last capitulation, that of the conclave of 1513 (which elected Pope Leo X

Pope Leo X

Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...

) was a turning point for papal supremacy

Papal supremacy

Papal supremacy refers to the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church that the pope, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ and as pastor of the entire Christian Church, has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered: that, in brief,...

 and attempts to control it through formal treaties; never again did the College attempt to limit its size

Size of the College of Cardinals

The size of the College of Cardinals has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils, and even the College itself. From 1099 to 1986, the total number of cardinals was approximately 2900 The size of the College of Cardinals has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils,...

 through capitulations; although individual cardinals remained powerful, the College as a whole never regained its power as the "senate" of the Church.

In 1676, Pope-elect Innocent XI

Pope Innocent XI

Blessed Pope Innocent XI , born Benedetto Odescalchi, was Pope from 1676 to 1689.-Early life:Benedetto Odescalchi was born at Como in 1611 , the son of a Como nobleman, Livio Odescalchi, and Paola Castelli Giovanelli from Gandino...

 made the College swear to the capitulation that had been drafted by the previous conclave before accepting his election.

Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II

Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...

's 1996 Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis

Universi Dominici Gregis

Universi Dominici Gregis is an Apostolic Constitution of the Catholic Church issued by Pope John Paul II on February 22, 1996. It superseded Pope Paul VI's 1975 Apostolic Constitution, Romano Pontifici Eligendo....

banned the defunct practice of conclave capitulations along with the papal veto, another conclave practice which had already been de facto eliminated.

"I likewise forbid the Cardinals before the election to enter into any stipulations, committing themselves of common accord to a certain course of action should one of them be elevated to the Pontificate. These promises too, should any in fact be made, even under oath, I also declare null and void."

List of conclave capitulations

Conclave year	Pope elected	Terms	Notes
1352 Papal conclave, 1352 Papal conclave 1352 convened after the death of Pope Clement VI, elected as his successor cardinal Etienne Aubert, who under the name Innocent VI became fifth Pope of the period of Avignon Papacy...	Innocent VI Pope Innocent VI Pope Innocent VI , born Étienne Aubert; his father was Adhemar Aubert seigneur de Montel-De-Gelas in Limousin province. His niece was Catherine Aubert, Dame de Boutheon, also the wife of Randon II baron de Joyeuse; she is La Fayette's ancestor...	College of Cardinals College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...  limited to 20; no new cardinals until only 16 remained Two-thirds of College needed to approve creating, excommunicating, depriving of suffrage, or reducing the property or revenue of cardinals, or to request subsidies from sovereigns or national clergies College granted veto power of papal decisions and policies All papal revenue shared with College	First conclave capitulation Declared invalid by Innocent VI in 1353
1431 Papal conclave, 1431 Papal conclave 1431 convened after the death of Pope Martin V, elected as his successor cardinal Gabriele Condulmer, who took the name Eugene IV. It was the first papal conclave held after the end of the Great Western Schism.-List of participants:Pope Martin V died on February 20, 1431...	Eugene IV Pope Eugene IV Pope Eugene IV , born Gabriele Condulmer, was pope from March 3, 1431, to his death.-Biography:He was born in Venice to a rich merchant family, a Correr on his mother's side. Condulmer entered the Order of Saint Augustine at the monastery of St. George in his native city...	Half of papal revenue was to be shared with the College of Cardinals College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor... No major issues were to be decided without the consent of the College	Eugene IV issues a bull to put the capitulation into effect, but later withdrew it Attempted to undo the reforms of Pope Martin V Pope Martin V Pope Martin V , born Odo Colonna, was Pope from 1417 to 1431. His election effectively ended the Western Schism .-Biography:... , which had deprived the College of control of church revenues
1458	Pius II Pope Pius II Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...	Welfare for the poorer cardinals; and a crusade against the Ottoman Turks
1464 Papal conclave, 1464 Papal conclave 1464 convened after the death of Pope Pius II, elected as his successor cardinal Pietro Barbo, who took the name Paul II.-List of participants:...	Paul II Pope Paul II Pope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.- Early life :He was born in Venice, and was a nephew of Pope Eugene IV , through his mother. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope...	Continue the crusading war against the Turks Leave Rome only with the consent of the majority of cardinals; Italy with the consent of all College of Cardinals College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...  limited to 24 New Pope limited to one cardinal-nephew Cardinal-nephew A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a Pope who is that cardinal's uncle, or, more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries. The word nepotism originally referred specifically to... Creation of cardinals or advancement of benefice Benefice A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:... s required the consent of the College	Similar to 1431 and 1454 capitulations Most of the three-day conclave was spent drafting the capitulation Cardinal Trevisan did not subscribe Paul II created three cardinal-nephew Cardinal-nephew A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a Pope who is that cardinal's uncle, or, more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries. The word nepotism originally referred specifically to... s
1471	Sitxus IV Pope Sixtus IV Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...	Continue the crusading war against the Turks	Fewer limitations on papal power Frontrunner Cardinal Basilios Bessarion fell out of favor by rejecting the capitulation
1484	Innocent VIII Pope Innocent VIII Pope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...	Cardinals protected from secular rulers from retaliation related to the conclave New Pope limited to one cardinal-nephew Cardinal-nephew A cardinal-nephew is a cardinal elevated by a Pope who is that cardinal's uncle, or, more generally, his relative. The practice of creating cardinal-nephews originated in the Middle Ages, and reached its apex during the 16th and 17th centuries. The word nepotism originally referred specifically to... College of Cardinals College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...  limited to 24
1492 Papal conclave, 1492 The papal conclave of 1492 convened after the death of Pope Innocent VIII , elected unanimously on the fourth ballot Cardinal Rodrigo Borja as Pope Alexander VI...	Alexander VI Pope Alexander VI Pope Alexander VI , born Roderic Llançol i Borja was Pope from 1492 until his death on 18 August 1503. He is one of the most controversial of the Renaissance popes, and his Italianized surname—Borgia—became a byword for the debased standards of the Papacy of that era, most notoriously the Banquet...	Limits on the creation of new cardinals	No other terms known
August-September 1503	Pius III Pope Pius III Pope Pius III , born Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, was Pope from September 22 to October 18, 1503.-Career:...	Papal stipend of 2,400 ducats a year for cardinals with annual income less than 6,000 ducats General council was to be held within two years, and every five years thereafter	College of Cardinals College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...  not limited to 24
October 1503	Julius II Pope Julius II Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513...	None	Shortest conclave ever
1513	Leo X Pope Leo X Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...	College of Cardinals College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...  limited to 24 Continue the crusading war against the Turks without taxing cardinals Reformation of the Roman Curia Roman Curia The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...  along the unfinished terms of Julius II Pope Julius II Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513... Roman Curia was not to leave Rome Two-thirds of College required to close the Lateran Council Lateran council The Lateran councils were ecclesiastical councils or synods of the Catholic Church held at Rome in the Lateran Palace next to the Lateran Basilica. Ranking as a papal cathedral, this became a much-favored place of assembly for ecclesiastical councils both in antiquity and more especially during... , to impeach or nominate a cardinal, nominate a legate a latere, to confer certain ecclesiastical offices (Julius II had excommunicated four cardinals) Laity mostly excluded from governing of Papal States Papal States The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under... Secret articles conferred benefits on cardinals: 200 ducat monthly allowance to a cardinal with annual income less than 6000 Cardinals could not be appointed legate without their consent Benefices of St. Peter and St. John the Lateran could only be conferred on Roman citizens	Imperial Ambassador considered the capitulation unlikely to be followed as it would make the cardinal elected only "half a Pope" Slightly unreliable copy found in diary of Paris de Grassis Paris de Grassis Paris de Grassis was the Master of ceremonies to pope Julius II and pope Leo X.-Biography:He was born at Bologna. He was the nephew of Antonio de Grassis, nuncio to Frederick III and Bishop of Tivoli... Leo X's violation of the capitulation marked the end of attempts to limit the size of the College Size of the College of Cardinals The size of the College of Cardinals has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils, and even the College itself. From 1099 to 1986, the total number of cardinals was approximately 2900 The size of the College of Cardinals has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils,...  or authority of Popes through capitulations; College was transformed from a "senate" to a group of advisers
1522	Adrian VI Pope Adrian VI Pope Adrian VI , born Adriaan Florenszoon Boeyens, served as Pope from 9 January 1522 until his death some 18 months later...	Unknown	Called "an exercise in futility as always" by Baumgartner
1549-1550	Julius III Pope Julius III Pope Julius III , born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, was Pope from 7 February 1550 to 1555....	Similar to that of 1523	Ippolito II d'Este Ippolito II d'Este Ippolito d'Este was an Italian cardinal and statesman. He was a member of the House of Este, and nephew of the other Ippolito d'Este, also a cardinal.-Biography:...  delayed negotiations on the capitulation for three days in an attempt to buy time for more French cardinals to reach the conclave Drafted by six cardinals elected from the College
1559	Pius IV Pope Pius IV Pope Pius IV , born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was Pope from 1559 to 1565. He is notable for presiding over the culmination of the Council of Trent.-Biography:...	Pope prohibited from waging war on a Catholic prince (as Pope Paul IV Pope Paul IV Pope Paul IV, C.R. , né Giovanni Pietro Carafa, was Pope from 23 May 1555 until his death.-Early life:Giovanni Pietro Carafa was born in Capriglia Irpina, near Avellino, into a prominent noble family of Naples...  had done with Spain) Lateran Council Lateran council The Lateran councils were ecclesiastical councils or synods of the Catholic Church held at Rome in the Lateran Palace next to the Lateran Basilica. Ranking as a papal cathedral, this became a much-favored place of assembly for ecclesiastical councils both in antiquity and more especially during...  was to be reconvened
1585	Sixtus V Pope Sixtus V Pope Sixtus V , born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590.-Early life:The chronicler Andrija Zmajević states that Felice's family originated from modern-day Montenegro...	Continue the crusading war against the Turks, make peace with Catholic monarchs, complete the construction of St. Peters (which had been ongoing for seven decades)	Little mention of privileges or number of cardinals Size of the College of Cardinals The size of the College of Cardinals has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils, and even the College itself. From 1099 to 1986, the total number of cardinals was approximately 2900 The size of the College of Cardinals has historically been limited by popes, ecumenical councils,...
September 1590	Urban VII Pope Urban VII Pope Urban VII , born Giovanni Battista Castagna, was Pope for thirteen days in September 1590. He was of Genoese origin, although born in Rome. He was created Cardinal-Priest of S. Marcello in 1584...	None known
1669-1670 Papal conclave, 1669–1670 The papal conclave from December 20, 1669 to April 29, 1670 elected Cardinal Emilio Altieri as Pope Clement X.- Cardinal electors :-Absentee cardinals:...	Clement X Pope Clement X Pope Clement X , born Emilio Bonaventura Altieri, was Pope from 29 April 1670 to 22 July 1676.-Early life:Emilio Altieri was born in Rome, the son of Lorenzo Altieri and Victoria Delphini, a Venetian lady...	Reform of the clergy, independence from secular rulers, restoration of adviserial role of cardinals
1676	Innocent XI Pope Innocent XI Blessed Pope Innocent XI , born Benedetto Odescalchi, was Pope from 1676 to 1689.-Early life:Benedetto Odescalchi was born at Como in 1611 , the son of a Como nobleman, Livio Odescalchi, and Paola Castelli Giovanelli from Gandino...	Same as that of 1670	Unique in that Pope-elect made cardinals swear to the previous capitulation before accepting the papacy

Further reading

• Archivo Segreto Vaticano, Conclavi di vari Pontifici, da Pio II a Innocente X, fol. 132 ff. Capitulation texts for the 22 conclaves between 1503 and 1644.