Papal conclave, 1823
Encyclopedia
Following the death of Pope Pius VII
on August 20, 1823, a papal conclave
was held to determine his successor.
Pius VII had reigned as Pope for what was then considered a very long pontificate (he was elected in 1800). During his reign as Pope, the Catholic Church had faced, in the French Revolution
and its aftermath, the most severe attack on its power and legitimacy since at least the Reformation
- some might say since Constantine
made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire
.
During Pius VII's papacy, the cardinals had tended to divide into two groups, the zelanti and the politicani. The zelanti
were more radically reactionary than the politicani and wanted a highly centralised Church and vehement opposition to the secularising reforms that had resulted in France from the Revolution spreading to the Papal States
. The politicani, though anti-liberal, were much more moderate and favoured a conciliatory approach to dealing with the problems new ideologies and the incipient Industrial Revolution
were creating. The leader of this faction was Pius VII's Cardinal Secretary of State
, Ercole Consalvi, but the zelanti wanted a much less moderate pontiff and they set fervently to this task from the time of Pius VII's death.
The length of Pius VII's papacy had a significant influence because of the forty-nine electors who participated in the conclave, only Giulio Maria della Somaglia
and Fabrizio Dionigio Ruffo were already cardinals when Pius VII was elected in 1800. Thus, forty-seven of the forty-nine electors had had no practical experience electing a Pope before this conclave.
A number of cardinals were thought at the beginning of the conclave as possible successors to Pius VII. Antonio Gabriele Severoli was at first seen as the most likely papabile
, but the veto of Francis I
, Emperor of Austria
ruled him out when he looked to have a reasonable chance. Francesco Saverio Castiglioni then took over as the most likely candidate, but after a while it was realised he was quite close to Consalvi: thus, his name was crossed off quickly. The experienced Cardinal della Somaglia then had a turn as a possible candidate, but for some the mere fact that he had signed his letters "Citizen Somaglia" during the occupation of the Papal States by Napoleon I of France
ruled him out.
It was only then that the eventual winner, Vicar of Rome Annibale della Genga, appeared, proposed by the zelanti. Whilst his tall, ascetic look and reactionary reputation was not an attraction for the politicanti, the fact that he was seemingly at death's door seemed an attraction for those cardinals by now desperate for a resolution of the conclave. As a result, Della Genga was elected on the 28th of September and took the regnal name
Leo XII.
Leo XII
was crowned as Pope on 5 October 1823.
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
on August 20, 1823, 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...
was held to determine his successor.
Pius VII had reigned as Pope for what was then considered a very long pontificate (he was elected in 1800). During his reign as Pope, the Catholic Church had faced, in the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
and its aftermath, the most severe attack on its power and legitimacy since at least the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
- some might say since Constantine
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
.
During Pius VII's papacy, the cardinals had tended to divide into two groups, the zelanti and the politicani. The zelanti
Zelanti
In Roman Catholicism, the expression zelanti has been applied to conservative members of the clergy and their lay supporters since the thirteenth century. Its specific connotations have shifted with each reapplication of the label...
were more radically reactionary than the politicani and wanted a highly centralised Church and vehement opposition to the secularising reforms that had resulted in France from the Revolution spreading to the 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...
. The politicani, though anti-liberal, were much more moderate and favoured a conciliatory approach to dealing with the problems new ideologies and the incipient Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
were creating. The leader of this faction was Pius VII's Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The 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...
, Ercole Consalvi, but the zelanti wanted a much less moderate pontiff and they set fervently to this task from the time of Pius VII's death.
The length of Pius VII's papacy had a significant influence because of the forty-nine electors who participated in the conclave, only Giulio Maria della Somaglia
Giulio Maria della Somaglia
-External links:*...
and Fabrizio Dionigio Ruffo were already cardinals when Pius VII was elected in 1800. Thus, forty-seven of the forty-nine electors had had no practical experience electing a Pope before this conclave.
A number of cardinals were thought at the beginning of the conclave as possible successors to Pius VII. Antonio Gabriele Severoli was at first seen as the most likely papabile
Papabile
Papabile is an unofficial Italian term first coined by Vaticanologists and now used internationally in many languages to describe a cardinal of whom it is thought likely or possible that he will be elected pope. A literal English translation would be "popeable" or "one who might become pope".In...
, but the veto of Francis I
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
, Emperor of Austria
Emperor of Austria
The Emperor of Austria was a hereditary imperial title and position proclaimed in 1804 by the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and continually held by him and his heirs until the last emperor relinquished power in 1918. The emperors retained the title of...
ruled him out when he looked to have a reasonable chance. Francesco Saverio Castiglioni then took over as the most likely candidate, but after a while it was realised he was quite close to Consalvi: thus, his name was crossed off quickly. The experienced Cardinal della Somaglia then had a turn as a possible candidate, but for some the mere fact that he had signed his letters "Citizen Somaglia" during the occupation of the Papal States by Napoleon I of France
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
ruled him out.
It was only then that the eventual winner, Vicar of Rome Annibale della Genga, appeared, proposed by the zelanti. Whilst his tall, ascetic look and reactionary reputation was not an attraction for the politicanti, the fact that he was seemingly at death's door seemed an attraction for those cardinals by now desperate for a resolution of the conclave. As a result, Della Genga was elected on the 28th of September and took the regnal name
Regnal name
A regnal name, or reign name, is a formal name used by some monarchs and popes during their reigns. Since medieval times, monarchs have frequently chosen to use a name different from their own personal name when they inherit a throne....
Leo XII.
Leo XII
Pope Leo XII
Pope Leo XII , born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiore Girolamo Nicola Sermattei della Genga, was Pope from 1823 to 1829.-Life:...
was crowned as Pope on 5 October 1823.
See also
- Fabrizio TurriozziFabrizio TurriozziFabrizio Turriozzi was an Italian Catholic cardinal.Born in Toscanella, he was created cardinal by Pope Pius VII at the consistory of 10 March 1823. He died in Rome in 1826.-External links:*...
| Duration | 26 days |
|---|---|
| Electors | 53 |
| Present | 49 |
| Absent | 4 |
| Veto used | by Emperor Francis I of Austria Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz... |
| DECEASED POPE | PIUS VII (1800-1823) |
| NEW POPE | LEO XII (1823-1829) |