Papal conclave, 1830-1831
Encyclopedia
A Papal conclave was held commencing December 14, 1830 after the death of Pope Pius VIII
. It did not conclude until the February 2, 1831 election of Mauro Alberto Cappellari as Pope Gregory XVI
.
Initially the chief candidates included Emmanuele De Gregorio
and Bartolomeo Pacca, who had been papabili in the 1829 conclave, plus Giacomo Giustiniani
, who was a long-serving papal diplomat
but was vetoed by King Ferdinand VII.
However, it became clear eventually that none of them could gain the support of two-thirds of the cardinals, and with Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich wanting a very strong Pope to hold firm against the flood of revolution haunting Europe at the time of the conclave, Giuseppe Albani intervened. He proposed Vincenzo Macchi
as his candidate, but few of the other cardinals saw Macchi as suitable for the papacy. Cappellari appeared as an alternative to both De Gregorio and Macchi only when the conclave was well-advanced, but even though Albani worked against him, Cappellari eventually took the lead and won election.
No conclave since has lasted as much as one week, but at the time no conclave had lasted less than three weeks since 1667. The conclave took as many as eighty-three ballots for anyone to gain a two-thirds majority, whereas no conclave since has taken more than fourteen.
45 of the 54 living cardinals participated, and Bartolomeo Pacca presided as Dean of the Sacred College
. Cappellari, then a Camaldolese
priest and prefect of the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide, was also the last Pope not yet a bishop when elected.
Pope Pius VIII
Pope Pius VIII , born Francesco Saverio Castiglioni was Pope in 1829 and 1830.-Biography:He was born in Cingoli, Marche, the son of Count Ottavio Castiglioni and his wife Sanzia Ghislieri. He studied Canon law and, in 1800 became bishop of Montalto...
. It did not conclude until the February 2, 1831 election of Mauro Alberto Cappellari as Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
.
Initially the chief candidates included Emmanuele De Gregorio
Emmanuele de Gregorio
Emmanuele de Gregorio was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.De Gregorio was born on at sea while his mother was travelling to Spain. Although he had one other cardinal among his relatives, no other information about his early life survives...
and Bartolomeo Pacca, who had been papabili in the 1829 conclave, plus Giacomo Giustiniani
Giacomo Giustiniani
Giacomo Giustiniani was an Italian papal diplomat and Cardinal. Considered papabile in the Papal Conclave , his election was vetoed by Ferdinand VII of Spain....
, who was a long-serving papal diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
but was vetoed by King Ferdinand VII.
However, it became clear eventually that none of them could gain the support of two-thirds of the cardinals, and with Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich wanting a very strong Pope to hold firm against the flood of revolution haunting Europe at the time of the conclave, Giuseppe Albani intervened. He proposed Vincenzo Macchi
Vincenzo Macchi
-Career:Born on 31 August 1770 in Capodimonte in the Papal States, he studied in Montefiascone and in Rome and was ordained a priest in 1794. In 1801 he gained his doctorate in utroque iure and was posted to the papal Nunciature in Lisbon, where he was active in the years 1801-1816...
as his candidate, but few of the other cardinals saw Macchi as suitable for the papacy. Cappellari appeared as an alternative to both De Gregorio and Macchi only when the conclave was well-advanced, but even though Albani worked against him, Cappellari eventually took the lead and won election.
No conclave since has lasted as much as one week, but at the time no conclave had lasted less than three weeks since 1667. The conclave took as many as eighty-three ballots for anyone to gain a two-thirds majority, whereas no conclave since has taken more than fourteen.
45 of the 54 living cardinals participated, and Bartolomeo Pacca presided as Dean of the Sacred College
Dean of the College of Cardinals
The Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals is the president of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church, and as such always holds the rank of Cardinal Bishop. The Dean is not necessarily the longest-serving member of the whole College...
. Cappellari, then a Camaldolese
Camaldolese
The Camaldolese monks and nuns are part of the Benedictine family of monastic communities which follow the way of life outlined in the Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century...
priest and prefect of the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide, was also the last Pope not yet a bishop when elected.
| Duration | 50 days |
|---|---|
| Number of ballots | 83 |
| Electors | 45 |
| Veto used | by Ferdinand VII of Spain |
| DECEASED POPE | PIUS VIII (1829-1830) |
| NEW POPE | GREGORY XVI (1831-1846) |