Papal conclave, 1621
Encyclopedia
Papal conclave 1621 – convoked after the death of Pope Paul V
, elected Cardinal Alessandro Ludovisi, who under the name of Gregory XV became 234th Pope
of the Catholic Church. It was the shortest conclave in the seventeenth century.
died on January 28, 1621 in the 16th year of his pontificate. At the time of his death, there were seventy cardinals in the Sacred College, but only sixty nine were valid electors. Fifty one of them participated in the election of the new Pope:
All the electors were Italians, except Zapata and Borja y Velasco, who were Spaniards. Thirty two were creatures of Paul V, fourteen of Pope Clement VIII
, four of Sixtus V, and one of Gregory XIII.
Three cardinals of the Italian ruling families (d'Este, Medici
and Sforza) were not counted among the members of these factions.
It was generally thought that the next Pope would be the candidate chosen by Cardinal Borghese, because he was the most influential person in the Sacred College. He wanted to elect his friend Cardinal Campori, and already before opening the conclave he had obtained twenty four declarations in his favor. Although Campori had two significant opponents (Republic of Venice
and Cardinal Orsini), Borghese was sure that he would be able to achieve his election on the first day of voting, by acclamation
.
Aldobrandini and Montalto, who formally were leaders of factions, were not able to play any significant role during conclave. Aldobrandini was gravely ill at that time and died a day after the election of new Pope. In these circumstances the actual leadership of anti-Borghesian cardinals fell to Alessandro Orsini, who was the main opponent of candidature of Campori.
The conclave began in the evening of February 8. On the next day, Cardinal Borghese tried to elect Campori by acclamation, but failed because many of his friends defected and aligned themselves with Orsini, who had secured French support for his action against Campori. Facing such strong opposition, Campori withdrew his candidature.
In the subsequent scrutiny
(the only one during this conclave), the greatest number of votes received (fifteen) were for Jesuit Cardinal Robert Bellarmine
, but he had already declared in the previous conclave that he would not accept papal dignity in the case of his election. Now, at the age of 78, Bellarmine did not change his mind.
The rest of the day the most influential cardinals: Borghese, Orsini, Zapata, Capponi, d'Este and Medici, spent on looking for a compromise candidature. The election of Cardinal Bourbon del Monte was proposed, but Spain rejected him. Finally, the leaders of factions agreed to elect aged and ill Cardinal Alessandro Ludovisi of Bologna, who seemed to have been ideal candidate for a temporary pontificate.
On that same day, at about 11 o’clock in the evening, all the cardinals assembled in the Capella Paolina and by acclamation elected Alessandro Ludovisi to the papacy. He accepted his election and took the name of Gregory XV. Five days later he was crowned
in the Vatican Basilica by protodeacon
Andrea Montalto.
issued constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis
" in 1996.
Pope Paul V
-Theology:Paul met with Galileo Galilei in 1616 after Cardinal Bellarmine had, on his orders, warned Galileo not to hold or defend the heliocentric ideas of Copernicus. Whether there was also an order not to teach those ideas in any way has been a matter for controversy...
, elected Cardinal Alessandro Ludovisi, who under the name of Gregory XV became 234th 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...
of the Catholic Church. It was the shortest conclave in the seventeenth century.
List of participants
Pope Paul VPope Paul V
-Theology:Paul met with Galileo Galilei in 1616 after Cardinal Bellarmine had, on his orders, warned Galileo not to hold or defend the heliocentric ideas of Copernicus. Whether there was also an order not to teach those ideas in any way has been a matter for controversy...
died on January 28, 1621 in the 16th year of his pontificate. At the time of his death, there were seventy cardinals in the Sacred College, but only sixty nine were valid electors. Fifty one of them participated in the election of the new Pope:
- Antonio Maria Sauli (created cardinal on December 18, 1587) – Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia e Velletri; Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals; Prefect of the S.C. of Ceremonies
- Benedetto GiustinianiBenedetto GiustinianiBenedetto Giustiniani was an Italian clergyman who was made a cardinal in the consistory of 16 November 1586 by Pope Sixtus V....
(November 16, 1586) – Cardinal-Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina; Sub-dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals
- Francesco Maria Del MonteFrancesco Maria Del MonteFrancesco Maria Del Monte, full name Francesco Maria Bourbon Del Monte Santa Maria, was an Italian Cardinal, diplomat and connoisseur of the arts...
(December 14, 1588) – Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina; Prefect of the S.C. of Rites
- Francesco Sforza di Santa Fiora (December 12, 1583) – Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati
- Alessandro Damasceni Peretti de Montalto (May 13, 1585) – Cardinal-Bishop of Albano; commendatario of S. Lorenzo in Damaso; Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman Church; Cardinal-protector of PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
; Cardinal-protector of the orders of Capuchins and Celestines
- Pietro AldobrandiniPietro AldobrandiniPietro Aldobrandini was an Italian Cardinal and patron of the arts.He was made a cardinal in 1593 by his uncle, Pope Clement VIII. He took over the duchy of Ferrara in 1598 when it fell to the Papal States...
(September 17, 1593) – Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina; Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church; Archbishop of Ravenna; Cardinal-protector of the Duchy of SavoyDuchy of SavoyFrom 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
- Ottavio Bandini (June 5, 1596) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Lucina; ProtopriestProtopriestProtopriest — in the College of Cardinals, is the first Cardinal-Priest in the order of precedence. This title is always attached to the most senior Cardinal Priest according to date of his creation. From the 17th century until the end of 19th century Protopriest usually opted for the titulus San...
of the Sacred College of Cardinals
- Bartolomeo CesiBartolomeo CesiBartolomeo Cesi was a painter of the Baroque era of the Bolognese School.Born to a wealthy family of Bologna, he studied under Giovanni Francesco Bezzo . In Bologna, he contributed works to the Duomo, Santo Stefano and the Basilica of San Domenico. He collaborated with Ludovico Carracci and...
(June 5, 1596) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Trastevere
- Bonifazio Bevilacqua (March 3, 1599) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli; Bishop of Cervia
- Robert Bellarmin, S.J. (March 3, 1599) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Via; Prefect of the S.C. of Index
- Giovanni Battista Deti (March 3, 1599) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Marcellino e Pietro
- Domenico Ginnasi (June 9, 1604) – Cardinal-Priest of SS. XII Apostoli; Prefect of the S.C. of Bishops and Regulars
- Antonio Zapata y CisnerosAntonio Zapata y CisnerosAntonio Zapata y Cisneros was a Spanish bishop, archbishop and cardinal-priest of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, as well as councillor to Philip III of Spain, viceroy of Naples and inquisitor general of Spain...
(June 9, 1604) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Balbina; Cardinal-protector of SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; Viceroy of Naples
- Carlo Gaudenzio MadruzzoCarlo Gaudenzio MadruzzoCarlo Gaudenzio Madruzzo was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal and statesman.-Biography:Born in the castle of Issogne, Aosta Valley, he was the son of Baron Giovanni Federico Madruzzo and Isabelle of Challant, and nephew of Cardinal Ludovico Madruzzo, Prince-Bishop of Trento.After his studies in...
(June 9, 1604) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Cesareo in Palatio; Bishop of Trent
- Giovanni Delfino (June 9, 1604) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Marco
- Giacomo Sannesio (June 9, 1604) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Stefano al Monte Celio; Bishop of Orvieto
- Scipione BorgheseScipione BorgheseScipione Borghese was an Italian Cardinal, art collector and patron of the arts. A member of the Borghese family, he was the patron of the painter Caravaggio and the artist Bernini...
(July 18, 1605) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Crisogono; Superintendent general of the States of the ChurchCardinal-nephewA 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...
; Cardinal Secretary of StateCardinal Secretary of StateThe Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
; Grand penitentiary; Prefect of the Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Grace; Archpriest of the patriarchal Vatican Basilica; Legate in AvignonAvignonAvignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
; Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals; Governor of FermoFermoFermo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the Province of Fermo.Fermo is located on a hill, the Sabulo with a fine view, on a branch from Porto San Giorgio on the Adriatic coast railway....
; Cardinal-protector of GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and FlandersFlandersFlanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
; Cardinal-protector of the Orders of Dominicans and OlivetansOlivetansThe Olivetans, or the Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet, are a monastic order formally recognised in 1344. They have formed the Olivetan Congregation within the Benedictine Confederation since 1960.-History:...
- Maffeo BarberiniPope Urban VIIIPope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
(September 11, 1606) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Onofrio; Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature of Justice
- Giovanni Garzia Millini (September 11, 1606) – Cardinal-Priest of SS. IV Coronati; Vicar General of Rome; Secretary of the Supreme S.C. of the Roman and Universal InquisitionRoman InquisitionThe Roman Inquisition was a system of tribunals developed by the Holy See during the second half of the 16th century, responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of a wide array of crimes related to heresy, including Protestantism, sorcery, immorality, blasphemy, Judaizing and witchcraft, as...
- Marcello Lante della RovereMarcello Lante della RovereMarcello Lante della Rovere was an Italian people Catholic Cardinal appointed Dean and Camerlengo of the College of Cardinals.-Family and early life:...
(September 11, 1606) – Cardinal-Priest of SS. Quirico e Giulitta; Bishop of Todi
- Michelangelo Tonti (November 24, 1608) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Bartolomeo all’Isola; Bishop of Cesena; Archpriest of the patriarchal Liberian Basilica
- Fabrizio Veralli (November 24, 1608) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Agostino
- Giovanni Battista Leni (November 24, 1608) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Cecilia; Archpriest of the patriarchal Lateran Basilica; Bishop of Ferrara
- Dezio Carafa (August 17, 1611) – Cardinal-Priest of SS. Giovanni e Paolo; Archbishop of Naples
- Domenico Rivarola (August 17, 1611) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Martino ai Monti; Legate in Romagna
- Giovanni Bonsi (August 17, 1611) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Clemente; Bishop of Béziers
- Filippo Filonardi (August 17, 1611) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria del Popolo
- Pier Paolo CrescenziPier Paolo CrescenziPier Paolo Crescenzi was an Italian Catholic Cardinal.Crescenzi was born in 1572, the son of Virgilio Crescenzi, Baron of Montorio, and Costanza, of the Marquises of Drago. He was the brother of artist Giovanni Battista Crescenzi...
(August 17, 1611) – Cardinal-Priest of SS. Nereo ed Achilleo; Bishop of Rieti
- Giacomo Serra (August 17, 1611) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria della Pace; Legate in FerraraFerraraFerrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
- Agostino Galamini, O.P. (August 17, 1611) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Aracoeli; Bishop of Osimo
- Gaspar Borja y Velasco (August 17, 1611) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Croce in Gerusalemme; Cardinal-protector of Germany
- Felice Centini, O.F.M.Conv. (August 17, 1611) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna; Bishop of Macerata e Tolentino
- Roberto UbaldiniRoberto UbaldiniRoberto Ubaldini was a bishop and cardinal of the Catholic Church.He was born in Florence. He was appointed Bishop of Montepulciano in 1607, and ordained to that post in 1608. He was elevated to the status of cardinal in 1615, and made Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Council in 1621...
(December 2, 1615) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Pudenziana; Prefect of the S.C. of the Tridentine Council; Bishop of Montepulciano
- Tiberio Muti (December 2, 1615) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Prisca; Bishop of Viterbo
- Giulio Savelli (December 2, 1615) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Sabina; Bishop of Ancona; Legate in BolognaBolognaBologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
- Alessandro LudovisiPope Gregory XVPope Gregory XV , born Alessandro Ludovisi, was pope from 1621, succeeding Paul V on 9 February 1621...
(September 19, 1616) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Transpontina; Archbishop of Bologna
- Ladislao d'Aquino (September 19, 1616) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria sopra Minerva; Bishop of VenafroVenafroVenafro is a comune in the province of Isernia, region of Molise, Italy. It has a population of around 12,000, having expanded quickly in the post-war period.-Geography:...
- Pietro Campori (September 19, 1616) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Tommaso in Parione
- Matteo Priuli (September 19, 1616) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Girolamo degli Schiavoni
- Scepione Cobelluzzi (September 19, 1616) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Susanna; Librarian of the Holy Roman Church
- Pietro Valier (January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; Archbishop of Crete
- Giulio RomaGiulio RomaGiulio Roma was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and Bishop of Recanati and Loreto.Roma was born 16 September 1584, in Milan, one of 16 children born to noble parents and was educated at the University of Pavia and the University of PerugiaAt a young age he became a chamberlain to Cardinal Federico...
(January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]
- Cesare Gherardi (January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]
- Desiderio Scaglia, O.P. (January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]
- Stefano PignatelliStefano PignatelliStefano Pignatelli was an Italian cardinal.Despite the name, he was not a member of the well-known Neapolitan noble family. His father was a potter...
(January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]
- Andrea Baroni Peretti Montalto (June 5, 1596) – Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Via Lata; ProtodeaconProtodeaconProtodeacon derives from the Greek proto- meaning 'first' and diakonos, which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiting-man," "minister" or "messenger." The word in English may refer to various clergymen, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.-Eastern...
of the Sacred College of Cardinals
- Alessandro d'Este (March 3, 1599) – Cardinal-Deacon of S. Eustachio; Governor of TivoliTivoli, ItalyTivoli , the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km east-north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills...
; Cardinal-protector of Spain
- Carlo Emmanuele Pio de Savoia (June 9, 1604) – Cardinal-Deacon of S. Nicola in Carcere Tulliano
- Luigi CapponiLuigi CapponiLuigi Capponi was an Italian Catholic Cardinal who became Archbishop of Ravenna.-Biography:Capponi was born in 1582, the son of Senator Francesco Capponi and Ludovica Macchiavelli. The Capponi family had extensive links to Italian political circles and to senior members of the Catholic Church...
(November 24, 1608) – Cardinal-Deacon of S. Angelo in Pescheria
- Carlo de' Medici (December 2, 1615) – Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Domnica
- Alessandro Orsini (December 2, 1615) – Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Cosmedin
All the electors were Italians, except Zapata and Borja y Velasco, who were Spaniards. Thirty two were creatures of Paul V, fourteen of Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
, four of Sixtus V, and one of Gregory XIII.
Absentees
Eighteen cardinals did not participate in this conclave:- Federico BorromeoFederico BorromeoFederico Borromeo was an Italian ecclesiastic, cardinal and archbishop of Milan.-Biography:Federico Borromeo was born in Milan as the second son of Giulio Cesare Borromeo, Count of Arona, and Margherita Trivulzio...
(December 18, 1587) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria degli Angeli; Archbishop of Milan
- Odoardo Farnese (March 6, 1591) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]
- Franz von Dietrischstein (March 3, 1599) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Silvestro in Capite; Bishop of OlomoucOlomoucOlomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
- François d'Escoubleau de Sourdis (March 3, 1599) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Marcello; Archbishop of Bordeaux
- François de la Rochefoucald (December 10, 1607) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Callisto; Bishop of Senlis
- Louis Guise de Lorraine (December 2, 1615) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; Archbishop of ReimsArchbishop of ReimsThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected as a diocese around 250 by St. Sixtus, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese around 750...
- Gabriel Trejo y Paniagua (December 2, 1615) – Cardinal-Priest of S. Pancrazio
- Baltasar Moscoso y Sandoval (December 2, 1615) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; Bishop of Jaén
- Melchior KleslMelchior KleslMelchior Klesl was an Austrian statesman and cardinal of the Roman Catholic church during the time of the Counter-Reformation...
(December 2, 1615) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; Bishop of WienWienWien is the German language name for Vienna, the city and federal state in Austria.* Wien , in Vienna, Austria* Theater an der Wien, a theater in Vienna located at the former river WienWien may also refer to:...
; Administrator of Wiener NeustadtWiener Neustadt-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
; Cardinal-protector of Germany
- Henri de Gondy de Retz (March 26, 1618) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; Bishop of Paris
- Francisco Goméz de Sandoval y Rojas (March 26, 1618) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; Duke of Lerma
- Francesco Cennini (January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]; Latin Patriarch of JerusalemLatin Patriarch of JerusalemThe Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is the title possessed by the Latin Rite Catholic Archbishop of Jerusalem. The Archdiocese of Jerusalem has jurisdiction for all Latin Rite Catholics in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Cyprus...
; Administrator of AmeliaAmelia-Places:* Amelia, Umbria, a town in Italy* Amelia, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States* Amelia, Nebraska, an unincorporated community in Holt County, Nebraska, United States...
- Guido Bentivoglio (January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]
- Eitel Friedrich von Zollern (January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Priest [no title assigned]
- Girolamo Doria (June 9, 1604) – Cardinal-Deacon of S. Adriano; Archbishop of Palermo
- Maurizio di Savoia (December 10, 1607) – Cardinal-Deacon [no deaconry assigned]
- Louis de Nogaret d'Épernon de La Valette (January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Deacon [no deaconry assigned]; Archbishop of Toulouse
- Agostino Spinola Basadone (January 11, 1621) – Cardinal-Deacon [no deaconry assigned]
Non-elector
Cardinal Infante of Spain was not an elector because he was only 12 years old:- Fernando de AustriaCardinal-Infante FerdinandCardinal-Infante Ferdinand was Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Infante of Spain, Archduke of Austria, Archbishop of Toledo , and military...
(July 29, 1619) – Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria in Portico; Administrator of ToledoToledo, SpainToledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
Factions in the Sacred College
There were three main parties in the Sacred College, with cardinal-nephews of the deceased Popes as leaders:- Borghesian party – the faction of Cardinal Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V. It grouped twenty nine cardinals created by this Pontiff.
- Clementine party – It grouped thirteen cardinals of Clement VIII. Formally their leader was Camerlengo Pietro Aldobrandini, nephew of Clement VIII.
- Sixtine party – small party of Vice-Chancellor Alessandro Montalto, cardinal-nephew of Sixtus V. It grouped six cardinals.
Three cardinals of the Italian ruling families (d'Este, Medici
Medici
The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...
and Sforza) were not counted among the members of these factions.
It was generally thought that the next Pope would be the candidate chosen by Cardinal Borghese, because he was the most influential person in the Sacred College. He wanted to elect his friend Cardinal Campori, and already before opening the conclave he had obtained twenty four declarations in his favor. Although Campori had two significant opponents (Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
and Cardinal Orsini), Borghese was sure that he would be able to achieve his election on the first day of voting, by acclamation
Acclamation
An acclamation, in its most common sense, is a form of election that does not use a ballot. "Acclamation" or "acclamatio" can also signify a kind of ritual greeting and expression of approval in certain social contexts in ancient Rome.-Voting:...
.
Aldobrandini and Montalto, who formally were leaders of factions, were not able to play any significant role during conclave. Aldobrandini was gravely ill at that time and died a day after the election of new Pope. In these circumstances the actual leadership of anti-Borghesian cardinals fell to Alessandro Orsini, who was the main opponent of candidature of Campori.
The election of Pope Gregory XV
In the subsequent scrutiny
Scrutiny
Scrutiny...
(the only one during this conclave), the greatest number of votes received (fifteen) were for Jesuit Cardinal Robert Bellarmine
Robert Bellarmine
Robert Bellarmine was an Italian Jesuit and a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was one of the most important figures in the Counter-Reformation...
, but he had already declared in the previous conclave that he would not accept papal dignity in the case of his election. Now, at the age of 78, Bellarmine did not change his mind.
The rest of the day the most influential cardinals: Borghese, Orsini, Zapata, Capponi, d'Este and Medici, spent on looking for a compromise candidature. The election of Cardinal Bourbon del Monte was proposed, but Spain rejected him. Finally, the leaders of factions agreed to elect aged and ill Cardinal Alessandro Ludovisi of Bologna, who seemed to have been ideal candidate for a temporary pontificate.
On that same day, at about 11 o’clock in the evening, all the cardinals assembled in the Capella Paolina and by acclamation elected Alessandro Ludovisi to the papacy. He accepted his election and took the name of Gregory XV. Five days later he was crowned
Papal Coronation
A papal coronation was the ceremony of the placing of the Papal Tiara on a newly elected pope. The first recorded papal coronation was that of Pope Celestine II in 1143. Soon after his coronation in 1963, Pope Paul VI abandoned the practice of wearing the tiara. His successors have chosen not to...
in the Vatican Basilica by protodeacon
Protodeacon
Protodeacon derives from the Greek proto- meaning 'first' and diakonos, which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiting-man," "minister" or "messenger." The word in English may refer to various clergymen, depending upon the usage of the particular church in question.-Eastern...
Andrea Montalto.
Legacy
Pope Gregory XV in his Bull "Aeterni Patris" (November 15, 1621) prescribes that in the future only three modes of papal election are to be allowed: scrutiny, compromise, and quasi-inspiration. His Bull "Decet Romanum Pontificem" (March 12, 1622) contains a ceremonial which regulates these three modes of election in every detail. The ordinary mode of election was to be election by scrutiny, which required that the vote be secret, that each cardinal give his vote to only one candidate and that no one vote for himself. Most of the papal elections during the sixteenth century were influenced by political conditions and by party considerations in the College of Cardinals. By introducing secrecy of vote, Pope Gregory XV intended to abolish these abuses. The rules and ceremonies prescribed by Gregory XV were substantially the same until Pope John Paul IIPope 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 ...
issued 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....
" in 1996.
Sources
- List of participants in the conclave of 1621 by Salvador Miranda
- Vatican History (an account in German)
- The Triple Crown: An Account of the Papal Conclaves
- Konrad EubelKonrad EubelKonrad Eubel or Conradus Eubel was a German Franciscan historian. He is known for his reference work, the Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi, on medieval popes, cardinals and bishops. It appeared in three volumes, beginning in 1898...
, HIERARCHIA CATHOLICA MEDII ET RECENTIORIS AEVI vol. I, 1913