2013 papal conclave#Cardinal electors

The papal election process began soon after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013. Since both Angelo Sodano and Roger Etchegaray, the dean and vice-dean of the College of Cardinals, respectively, were ineligible to participate in the conclave due to age, Giovanni Battista Re from Italy, the most senior cardinal bishop under 80, presided over the conclave.{{cite web |url=http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/orders.htm |title=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church – Orders and precedence |publisher=fiu.edu |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214070303/http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/orders.htm |archive-date=14 February 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/conclave-xxi.htm#2013 |title=Conclave of March 2013 |publisher=Salvador Miranda |access-date=1 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224052646/http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/conclave-xxi.htm#2013 |archive-date=24 December 2017 |url-status=live }}

In 1996, Pope John Paul II fixed the start date of the conclave at 15 to 20 days after the papacy became vacant in Universi Dominici gregis. The 2013 conclave was initially expected to start sometime between 15 and 20 March 2013. On 25 February, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Benedict XVI issued his apostolic letter Normas nonnullas to allow for a schedule change.Staff (25 February 2013). [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21573157 "Pope Benedict XVI Amends Roman Catholic Conclave Law"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806183341/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21573157 |date=6 August 2019 }}. BBC News. Retrieved 28 February 2013. This gave the College of Cardinals more latitude, once all of the cardinal electors had arrived in Rome, to start the conclave earlier or later.{{cite web|url=http://www.indianchristianity.com|last=Menachery|first=George|title=Conclave must not be Pre-poned|date=2013|accessdate=28 April 2025}} They scheduled the conclave to begin on 12 March.{{cite web |url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/03/08/conclave_to_begin_tuesday_march_12th/en1-671593 |title=Conclave to begin Tuesday March 12th |publisher=Vatican Radio |date=8 March 2013 |access-date=8 March 2013 |archive-date=12 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112150525/http://www.radiovaticana.va/page404.html |url-status=live }}

Benedict XVI also amended the conclave law to provide for the automatic excommunication of any non-cardinal who breaks the absolute oath of secrecy.{{efn|Under the prior rules, any such person who violated the duty of secrecy was subject to punishment at the discretion of the new pope.{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html|title=Universi Dominici Gregis Chapter II Section 48, Chapter III Section 55. English text|publisher=Vatican.va|access-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408114224/http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html|archive-date=8 April 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/30589.php?index=30589&po_date=25.02.2013&#TRADUZIONE%20IN%20LINGUA%20INGLESE |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505180547/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/30589.php?index=30589&po_date=25.02.2013&%23TRADUZIONE%20IN%20LINGUA%20INGLESE |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |title=Normas nonnullas: Apostolic Letter Issued Motu Proprio on Certain Modifications to the Norms Governing the Election of the Roman Pontiff |publisher=Vatican.va |access-date=7 April 2013 }}}}

{{Main|Cardinal electors in the 2013 papal conclave}}

There were 207 cardinals on the day the papacy fell vacant. Cardinals who were 80 years or older before the day the papacy fell vacant were ineligible to participate,John Paul II (22 February 1996). [https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html Universi Dominici Gregis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408114224/http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html |date=8 April 2012 }}. Apostolic Constitution. Vatican City: Vatican Publishing House.Paul VI (20 November 1970). [https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19701120_ingravescentem_lt.html Ingravescentem Aetatem] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622193639/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19701120_ingravescentem_lt.html |date=22 June 2012 }} (in Latin). Motu proprio. Vatican City. leaving 117 electors (including Walter Kasper, who turned 80 between the day the papacy became vacant and the start of the conclave). Two of them were the first cardinal electors from their churches to participate in a conclave: Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi{{efn|Al-Rahi is the fourth Maronite Cardinal Bishop Patriarch. His predecessors turned 80 before having the opportunity to participate in a conclave.}}{{cite news|title=No Arab in the running for Pope, but Maronite to get vote for first time|url=http://www.albawaba.com/news/pope-resignation-470103|access-date=20 August 2013|newspaper=Al Bawaba News|date=12 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524061340/http://www.albawaba.com/news/pope-resignation-470103|archive-date=24 May 2013|url-status=live}} and Syro-Malankara Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis, the first bishop from the Syro-Malankara Church to be elevated to the College of Cardinals.{{efn|Baselios Cleemis was also the youngest cardinal elector and the youngest member of the College of Cardinals.{{cite web |url=http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/electors-age.htm |title=Cardinal electors arranged by age |publisher=Salvador Miranda |access-date=18 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214070258/http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/electors-age.htm |archive-date=14 February 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/birth.htm|title=Living cardinals arranged by date of birth|publisher=Salvador Miranda|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926062452/http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/birth.htm|archive-date=26 September 2013|url-status=live}}}}{{cite news|title=Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis left for Rome |url=http://news.catholicate.net/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsType=News&ID=221 |access-date=20 August 2013 |newspaper=Malankara Catholic News |date=28 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927203342/http://news.catholicate.net/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsType=News&ID=221 |archive-date=27 September 2013 }}

Two cardinal electors did not attend the conclave. Julius Darmaatmadja from Indonesia declined to attend because of progressive deterioration of his eyesight.{{cite web | author = Hariyadi, Mathias | date = 21 February 2013 | url = http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Conclave,-Cardinal-Darmaatmadja-renounces-for-health-reasons-27198.html | title = Conclave, Cardinal Darmaatmadja Renounces for 'Health Reasons' | publisher = AsiaNews | access-date = 1 March 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130224055228/http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Conclave%2C-Cardinal-Darmaatmadja-renounces-for-health-reasons-27198.html | archive-date = 24 February 2013 | url-status = live }} Keith O'Brien, the only potential cardinal elector from the British Isles,{{efn|The archdiocese of Cardinal Elector Seán Brady straddles the border between Northern Ireland, part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, and his seat is in Armagh, Northern Ireland, in the United Kingdom but not Great Britain.}} had been accused of sexual misconduct towards priests in the 1980s and said he did not want his presence to create a distraction. He had resigned as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh on 18 February and later apologised for "sexual misconduct".Pigott, Robert (25 February 2013). [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21572724 "Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigns as Archbishop"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725182518/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21572724 |date=25 July 2018 }}. BBC News.(Resigned 18 February, announced 25 February). Retrieved 1 March 2013.{{cite news |author=Jerome Taylor |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/catholic-church-scandal-cardinal-obrien-faces-vatican-sexual-conduct-inquiry-as-he-asks-forgiveness-of-those-he-offended-8518371.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/catholic-church-scandal-cardinal-obrien-faces-vatican-sexual-conduct-inquiry-as-he-asks-forgiveness-of-those-he-offended-8518371.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The Independent newspaper: Catholic Church scandal: Cardinal O'Brien faces Vatican sexual conduct inquiry as he asks forgiveness of those he 'offended', 3 March 2013 |work=The Independent |date=4 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |location=London}}{{cbignore}} With 115 cardinal electors participating, the same number of electors as the 2005 conclave, this conclave saw the largest number of cardinal electors ever to elect a pope, a number later surpassed by the 2025 conclave; accordingly, the required two-thirds majority needed to elect a pope was 77 votes.

The Los Angeles Times suggested that, though a pope from Latin America was unlikely, with only 19 of 117 cardinal electors being from Latin America, the region sought more say in the Vatican affairs, as it has the world's largest Catholic population. It cited secularism and the rise of Evangelical Protestantism in Latin America detracting from the Catholic faith, along with the sex abuse scandals in Mexico, Brazil, and Chile as issues important to the region.{{cite news |last=Wilkinson |first=Tracy |date=23 February 2013 |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-latin-america-church-20130224,0,7696457.story |title=As a New Pope Is Chosen, Latin America Hopes for More Sway |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=28 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225003302/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-latin-america-church-20130224,0,7696457.story |archive-date=25 February 2013 |url-status=live }} BBC News said that, while the balloting was likely going to be hard-fought between different factions for a European or a non-European, an Italian or a non-Italian future pope, the internal differences were unclear,{{cite news |last=Willey |first=David |date=28 February 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21624154 |title=The day Benedict XVI's papacy ended |work=BBC News |access-date=1 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301154802/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21624154 |archive-date=1 March 2013 |url-status=live }} and that many different priorities were at play, making this election exceedingly difficult to predict.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21731439 |title=The Vatican: Suspense and intrigue |publisher=BBC |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311171232/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21731439 |archive-date=11 March 2013 |url-status=live }} Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, who was not an elector, remarked laughingly to a BBC presenter that his colleagues have been telling him "Siamo confusi{{-"}}—"We're confused", as there were neither clear blocs nor a front-runner.{{cite web |last=Ivereigh |first=Austen |url=http://www.osvdailytake.com/2013/03/ivereigh-in-rome-does-cardinal.html |title=Does cardinal confusion spell a long conclave? |publisher=OSV Newsweekly |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316114559/http://www.osvdailytake.com/2013/03/ivereigh-in-rome-does-cardinal.html |archive-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}

One Australian commentator noted that the reform of the administrative machinery of the church, the Roman Curia, was a major issue, as there was no major progressive candidate, and indeed no clear front-runners, in the dynamic between the institutional-maintenance and evangelical Catholicism.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/03/12/3713246.htm |title=The peculiar dynamics of Conclave 2013 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314202434/http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/03/12/3713246.htm |archive-date=14 March 2013 |url-status=live }} Giacomo Galeazzi of La Stampa said: "Apparently, a sort of tsunami of non-European candidates will fall upon the Roman Curia, and this could take the pontificate far away from Rome, making it more international."{{cite news |url=http://www.euronews.com/2013/03/11/the-complicated-choice-facing-the-vatican-conclave/ |title=The complicated choice facing the Vatican conclave |publisher=Euronews |date=3 November 2013 |access-date=16 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117144633/http://www.euronews.com/2013/03/11/the-complicated-choice-facing-the-vatican-conclave |archive-date=17 November 2016 |url-status=live }} Italian Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio said: "It's time to look outside Italy and Europe, in particular considering Latin America."

The dossier of the Vatican's internal investigation into the so-called Vatileaks scandal was called "in effect ... the 118th cardinal inside the conclave".{{cite news |date=21 February 2013 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/9886454/Vatican-conclave-tainted-by-scandal-before-it-even-begins.html |title=Vatican conclave tainted by scandal before it even begins |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=1 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224025953/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/9886454/Vatican-conclave-tainted-by-scandal-before-it-even-begins.html |archive-date=24 February 2013 |url-status=live }}{{efn|After two cardinals announced that they would not be attending, the Italian media referred to the Vatileaks scandal as "the 116th cardinal".{{cite news |author-link=Eric Lyman |last=Lyman |first=Eric J. |date=1 March 2013 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/03/01/papal-conclave-date-summons/1955905/ |title=Vatican Summons Cardinals for Conclave |work=USA Today |access-date=3 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302201511/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/03/01/papal-conclave-date-summons/1955905/ |archive-date=2 March 2013 |url-status=live }}}} Although the investigating cardinals (none of whom are cardinal electors) were free to discuss the results of their investigation with the participants of the conclave, the dossier itself was to be given by Pope Benedict XVI to his successor.{{cite news |last=Wright |first=David |date=25 February 2013 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/02/results-of-vatileaks-probe-for-popes-eyes-only |title=Results of 'Vatileaks' Probe For 'Pope's Eyes Only' |work=ABC News |access-date=28 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228115212/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/02/results-of-vatileaks-probe-for-popes-eyes-only/ |archive-date=28 February 2013 |url-status=live }}

Cardinal Velasio De Paolis said that the presence of Cardinal Roger Mahony, former Archbishop of Los Angeles, in the conclave would be "troubling", but he also noted that the said cardinal "has the right and duty to take part", and "the rules must be followed". Mahony's successor in Los Angeles, Archbishop José Horacio Gómez, had recently rebuked Mahony for his handling of sex abuse cases, though he too, supported Mahony's participation in the conclave.{{cite news |last= Kington |first= Tom |date= 20 February 2013 |url= http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-murmurs-about-mahony-at-papal-conclave-20130220,0,1112419.story |title= Vatican Murmurs About Mahony's Attendance at Papal Conclave |newspaper= Los Angeles Times |access-date= 28 February 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130227081156/http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-murmurs-about-mahony-at-papal-conclave-20130220,0,1112419.story |archive-date= 27 February 2013 |url-status= live }}

{{Main|Papabile}}

Although the conclave cardinals may elect any baptized Catholic male,{{cite news |last1=Almond |first1=Kyle |last2=O'Key |first2=Sean |title=The Papal Conclave |url=https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/03/world/pope-conclave/|url-status=live|work=CNN |date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313191330/http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/03/world/pope-conclave/ |archive-date=13 March 2013 |language=en}}Technically, Nicholas II's In nomine Domini bull of 1059 laid down that the electors could choose from "another church" if there was no suitable candidate within the Roman church. the last time a non-cardinal was elected pope was in the 1378 papal conclave.{{cite web |author1=Miranda, Salvador |author1-link=Salvador Miranda (historian) |url=http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/conclave-xiv.htm#1378 |website=The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church | title=Conclaves of the 14th Century (1303-1394) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183708/http://www2.fiu.edu/~mirandas/conclave-xiv.htm#1378 |archive-date=3 March 2016}} Observers of papal elections tend to consider, by a variety of criteria, some cardinals to be more likely to become pope than others{{snd}}these are the {{lang|it|papabili}}, the plural for {{lang|it|papabile}}, an Italian word loosely translated as "pope-able". Since the set of {{lang|it|papabili}} is a matter of speculation from the press, the election of a non-{{lang|it|papabile}} is not uncommon; recent cases are John XXIII in 1958, and both John Paul I and John Paul II in 1978. This is reflected in the popular saying "He who enters the conclave as pope, leaves it as a cardinal."{{Cite web |last=Allen Jr. |first=John L. |date=13 March 2013 |title=Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope |url=https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/papabile-day-men-who-could-be-pope-12 |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=National Catholic Reporter |language=en}}

Cardinals Christoph Schönborn of Austria,{{cite web |url=http://kurier.at/politik/weltchronik/vatikan-kenner-schoenborn-als-neuer-papst-in-poleposition/3.419.331 |title=Vatikan-Kenner: Schönborn als neuer Papst in "Poleposition" |publisher=Kurier.at |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053752/http://kurier.at/politik/weltchronik/vatikan-kenner-schoenborn-als-neuer-papst-in-poleposition/3.419.331 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.wienerzeitung.at/dossiers/papst/524260_Papst-Nachfolge-Italiens-Medien-sehen-Schoenborn-in-Pole-Position.html |title=Papst-Nachfolge: Italiens Medien sehen Schönborn in "Pole Position" – "Würde Kontinuität mit Benedikts Ansichten garantieren" |work=Papst - Wiener Zeitung Online |date=13 February 2013 |publisher=Wienerzeitung.at |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316001823/http://www.wienerzeitung.at/dossiers/papst/524260_Papst-Nachfolge-Italiens-Medien-sehen-Schoenborn-in-Pole-Position.html |archive-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=live |last1=Online |first1=Wiener Zeitung }}{{cite web |url=http://www.hechosdehoy.com/scherer-sandri-scola-schnborn-y-tagle-el-enigma-de-los-papables-24544.htm |title=Scherer, Sandri, Scola, Schönborn y Tagle, el enigma de los papables |publisher=Hechosdehoy.com |access-date=12 March 2013 |date=11 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214045756/http://www.hechosdehoy.com/scherer-sandri-scola-schnborn-y-tagle-el-enigma-de-los-papables-24544.htm |archive-date=14 February 2013 |url-status=live }} Odilo Scherer of Brazil,{{cite web |url=http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/impresso,grupo-de-cardeais-articula-nome-de-d-odilo-scherer-,1002901,0.htm |title=Grupo de cardeais articula nome de d. Odilo Scherer |work=O Estado de S. Paulo |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304121744/http://www.estadao.com.br/noticias/impresso,grupo-de-cardeais-articula-nome-de-d-odilo-scherer-,1002901,0.htm |archive-date=4 March 2013 |url-status=live }} Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Peter Turkson of Ghana, Marc Ouellet of Canada, Péter Erdő of Hungary,{{cite news |last=L. Allen Jr. |first=John |title=Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope – Cardinal Péter Erdõ of Budapest, Hungary |url=http://ncronline.org/node/45901 |newspaper=National Catholic Reporter |date=24 February 2013 |access-date=21 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301055754/http://ncronline.org/node/45901 |archive-date=1 March 2013 |url-status=live }} and Angelo Scola of Italy were among the cardinals most often identified in press reports as those most likely to be elected.{{cite news|author1=Hirsch, Afua|author2=Jones, Sam|title=Who Will Be the Next Pope? The Contenders for Vatican's Top Job|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/11/next-pope-contenders-vatican-job|work=The Guardian|date=11 February 2013|access-date=12 February 2013|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406223110/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/11/next-pope-contenders-vatican-job|archive-date=6 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Donadio|first1=Rachel|last2=Povoledo|first2=Elisabetta|title=Pope Resigns, with Church at Crossroads|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/world/europe/with-popes-resignation-focus-shifts-to-a-successor.html|work=The New York Times|pages=A1, A11|date=12 February 2013|access-date=12 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214225907/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/world/europe/with-popes-resignation-focus-shifts-to-a-successor.html|archive-date=14 February 2017|url-status=live}} Scola, in particular, was considered such a front-runner that the Episcopal Conference of Italy had pre-drafted a press release concerning his election. However, Scola's ties to a corruption probe caused his perception by the fellow cardinals to decline drastically.{{Cite web |last=Condon |first=Ed |title=The short and the long of conclave timing |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/the-short-and-the-long-of-conclave |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=The Pillar |language=en}}

On 9 March, Cardinal André Vingt-Trois said there were around "half a dozen possible candidates".{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jdZHOcOZFlHIouPmk3mCQSdW8Yww?docId=CNG.f367e8ca21c533982ac544839e4abb7f.31 |title=AFP: Vatican readies for conclave to elect new pope |access-date=12 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520104925/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jdZHOcOZFlHIouPmk3mCQSdW8Yww?docId=CNG.f367e8ca21c533982ac544839e4abb7f.31 |archive-date=20 May 2013 }} The next day, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin said: "There are three, four, maybe a dozen candidates."{{cite news|last=Allen|first=John L. Jr.|title=Path to the papacy: 'Not him, not him, therefore him'|url=http://ncronline.org/news/global/path-papacy-not-him-not-him-therefore-him|access-date=9 April 2013|newspaper=National Catholic Reporter|date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416010355/http://ncronline.org/news/global/path-papacy-not-him-not-him-therefore-him|archive-date=16 April 2013|url-status=live}} Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was seen as a papabile, though less likely (according to the public opinion) to emerge as pope.{{cite news | url=http://ncronline.org/node/46476 | title=Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope (Profile: New pope, Jesuit Bergoglio, was runner-up in 2005 conclave) | newspaper=National Catholic Reporter | date=3 March 2013 | access-date=15 March 2013 | author=John L. Allen Jr. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315020644/http://ncronline.org/node/46476 | archive-date=15 March 2013 | url-status=live }}{{cite web |work=Business Insider |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-man-who-will-be-the-next-pope-2012-4?op=1 |title=One Of These Men Will Be The Next Pope |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=15 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211225912/http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-man-who-will-be-the-next-pope-2012-4?op=1 |archive-date=11 February 2013 |url-status=live }} One summary of the likely candidates included Bergoglio because he was "rumoured to be the (weak) second place finisher" in the previous conclave but observed that "his 'moment' seems to be over". In addition, Bergoglio was seen as an older choice; he was 76 at the time of the conclave, and older than the rest of the papabili.

As soon as Benedict XVI announced his resignation, cardinals started arriving in Rome, and by the day the interregnum formally began, most of them had already arrived.Hitchen, Philippa (28 February 2013). [http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/02/28/benedict_pledges_obedience_to_his_successor/en1-669095 "Benedict Pledges Obedience to His Successor"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601182302/http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/02/28/benedict_pledges_obedience_to_his_successor/en1-669095 |date=1 June 2013 }}. Vatican Radio. Retrieved 3 March 2013. A formal invitation to the conclave was issued on 1 March.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21755541|title= Papal conclave: Runners and riders|date= 12 March 2013|work= BBC News|access-date= 12 March 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130315002749/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21755541|archive-date= 15 March 2013|url-status= live}} The last of the 115 participating cardinal electors to arrive was Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Phạm Minh Mẫn of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, who arrived on 7 March.{{cite news| url=https://apnews.com/article/f4b85bae5976447bb36690a9e1b4c3b5| title=Vietnam Cardinal Arrives, Last 1 in For Conclave| work=Associated Press News| date=7 March 2013| access-date=7 March 2013| archive-date=15 December 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215171043/https://apnews.com/article/f4b85bae5976447bb36690a9e1b4c3b5| url-status=live}}

Gianfranco Ravasi of the Roman Curia, one of seventeen{{cite web |url=http://news.discovery.com/history/religion/filipino-cardinals-stock-rises-on-social-media-130307.htm |title=Filipino Cardinal's Stock Rises on Social Media : Discovery News |publisher=News.discovery.com |date=7 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311064350/http://news.discovery.com/history/religion/filipino-cardinals-stock-rises-on-social-media-130307.htm |archive-date=11 March 2013 |url-status=live }} cardinal electors with Twitter accounts, suspended his social media presence on his own initiative at the beginning of the interregnum, while others posted their reactions as they assembled.{{efn| Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles tweeted about the diversity of the Cardinals, many of whom were meeting each other for the first time.Menachery: "Conclave must not be Pre-poned". www.indianchristianity.com Accessed 29 May 2017: "Fascinating meeting Cardinals from all around the world. Stories and needs so different; but always a uniform focus on Jesus Christ!" Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban, South Africa tweeted in response to a pastor in Ontario, Canada, in less than an hour that "What I see is a real desire to know, and so evaluate, the papabili against criteria of qualities demanded by situations."{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2013/03/tweeting-cardinals-share-pre-conclave-thoughts/ |title=Tweeting Cardinals Share Pre-Conclave Thoughts |work=ABC News |date=6 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309225219/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2013/03/tweeting-cardinals-share-pre-conclave-thoughts/ |archive-date=9 March 2013 |url-status=live }}}} The College of Cardinals later imposed a pre-conclave media and social media blackout, following leaks to the Italian press, which precluded some American cardinals from holding further press conferences.{{cite news |author=Jason Horowitz |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/college-of-cardinals-imposes-media-blackout/2013/03/06/025d07e4-866d-11e2-98a3-b3db6b9ac586_story.html |title=College of Cardinals imposes media blackout |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=6 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306165815/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/college-of-cardinals-imposes-media-blackout/2013/03/06/025d07e4-866d-11e2-98a3-b3db6b9ac586_story.html |archive-date=6 March 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.johnthavis.com/the-vatican-fires-back-at-journalists/p/1451887/Add/Tags/ContentID/3470425/ShowTags/cardinals |title=The Blog |work=John Thavis |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618151535/http://www.johnthavis.com/the-vatican-fires-back-at-journalists/p/1451887/Add/Tags/ContentID/3470425/ShowTags/cardinals |archive-date=18 June 2013 |url-status=live }} Some cardinal electors researched one another online.{{cite web |url=http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/03/17147348-late-dinners-grappa-the-behind-the-scenes-work-of-picking-a-pope |title=Late dinners, grappa: The behind-the-scenes work of picking a pope |work=NBC News |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306020757/http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/03/17147348-late-dinners-grappa-the-behind-the-scenes-work-of-picking-a-pope |archive-date=6 March 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/03/10/cardinals-only-in-sistine-chapel-but-catholics-others-create-virtual-conclave.html |title=Catholics create 'virtual conclave' online for new pope |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=1 October 2006 |access-date=12 March 2013}}{{cite news |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/03/09/pope-ready-renowned-sistine-chapel-decked-with-special-chimney-for-conclave/ |title=Pope Ready: Renowned Sistine Chapel Decked with Special Chimney for Conclave |publisher=Fox News Channel |access-date=12 March 2013 |date=9 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311022459/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/03/09/pope-ready-renowned-sistine-chapel-decked-with-special-chimney-for-conclave/ |archive-date=11 March 2013 |url-status=live }}

The first of several "general congregations" was held on the morning of 4 March to organise the event.Lavanga, Claudio; Angerer, Carlo (1 March 2013). [http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/01/17145406-vatican-cardinals-will-meet-monday-to-discuss-papal-conclave-date?lite "Vatican: Cardinals Will Meet Monday to Discuss Papal Conclave Date"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055918/http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/01/17145406-vatican-cardinals-will-meet-monday-to-discuss-papal-conclave-date?lite |date=4 March 2016 }}. NBC News. Retrieved 3 March 2013. The Sistine Chapel was closed to the public on 5 March in preparation for the conclave even before its date was set.{{cite web |author=Sean Patterson |url=http://www.webpronews.com/sistine-chapel-closes-ahead-of-papal-conclave-2013-03 |title=Sistine Chapel Closes Ahead of Papal Conclave |publisher=WebProNews |date=5 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307112406/http://www.webpronews.com/sistine-chapel-closes-ahead-of-papal-conclave-2013-03 |archive-date=7 March 2013 |url-status=live }} To control communication with the outside world during the conclave, a Faraday cage blocking all outgoing and incoming communications was installed in the Sistine Chapel area.{{cite news |author=Nick Vivarelli |url=https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/vatican-to-strip-papal-conclave-of-social-media-devices-1200006475/ |title=Vatican to Strip Papal Conclave of Social Media Devices |work=Variety |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525133802/http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/vatican-to-strip-papal-conclave-of-social-media-devices-1200006475/ |archive-date=25 May 2013 |url-status=live }} Contemporary media nevertheless gave journalists and other outsiders unprecedented access to this conclave.{{cite web |last=Roughneen |first=Simon |url=https://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2013/03/tweets-vs-smoke-signals-how-to-follow-the-papal-conclave071.html |title=MediaShift . Tweets vs. Smoke Signals: How to Follow the Papal #Conclave |publisher=PBS |access-date=7 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316033510/http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2013/03/tweets-vs-smoke-signals-how-to-follow-the-papal-conclave071.html |archive-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=dead }} Approximately 5,600 journalists were accredited to cover the event.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/12/world/europe/vatican-pope-selection/index.html |title=No winner in first vote to elect new pope |publisher=CNN |date=12 March 2013 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108084622/http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/12/world/europe/vatican-pope-selection/index.html |archive-date=8 January 2018 |url-status=live }}

The first congregation was held on the morning of 4 March and focused on introductory matters, picking three assistants to the camerlengo, the recent Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization, and a suggestion for a message of appreciation to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Thirteen cardinals gave speeches in the order they had requested to speak. The second congregation was held on the evening of 4 March and featured the preaching of the first of the two required meditations by Father Raniero Cantalamessa and nine more addresses.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The third congregation was held the morning of 5 March and featured 11 more addresses (all six continents had been represented at that time). The message of appreciation was sent, and the text of the guidelines for the conclave was read. Topics of discussion were: the activities of the Holy See in light of its relations with the world church's bishops, the course of the church's renewal after Vatican Council II, and the church's position in the world, especially regarding the New Evangelization. That evening, the Sistine Chapel closed and the furnaces were installed.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The fourth congregation was held on the morning of 6 March. The Liturgy of the Hours was prayed and three cardinals with birthdays were congratulated, then 18 more speeches (limited to five minutes) were given. All but two cardinal-electors were present and had taken the oath. The church in the world today and the needs of the New Evangelization, the status of the Holy See and of the Roman Curia's dicasteries (its departments: the congregations, the courts, and the pontifical councils, commissions, and academies), relations with bishops, and expectations of a future pope, were discussed. That evening, a prayer service was held at St. Peter's Basilica.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The fifth congregation was held the morning of 7 March. Three new cardinal assistants to the camerlengo were chosen. A telegram of condolence for the death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez was then read. Three separate speeches, each done by one of the three cardinal presidents of the three economic departments of the Holy See, were then given. Then, 13 more speeches were given, especially on ecumenism and the church's charitable efforts and attention to the poor, in addition to the topics from the previous meeting sessions.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The sixth congregation was scheduled for that evening. Some cardinals from the U.S. had stated in their interviews that the conclave might not begin until well into the following week, wanting the issues to be well-discussed. This also gave the non-Italian and non-curial cardinals the benefit of getting to know their Italian and curial counterparts, and especially their other colleagues worldwide, better, which may have lessened any disadvantage they may have had in voting.{{cite web|url=http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/05/news/30596.html|title=BRIEFING SULLA SECONDA E SULLA TERZA CONGREGAZIONE GENERALE DEL COLLEGIO CARDINALIZIO|date=5 March 2013|website=Vatican|language=it|access-date=7 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307131923/http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/05/news/30596.html|archive-date=7 March 2013}}

{{cite web|url=http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/06/news/30600.html|title=BRIEFING SULLA QUARTA CONGREGAZIONE GENERALE DEL COLLEGIO CARDINALIZIO|date=6 March 2013|website=Vatican|language=it|access-date=7 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310032306/http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/06/news/30600.html|archive-date=10 March 2013}}

{{cite web|url=http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/07/news/30604.html|title=BRIEFING SULLA QUINTA CONGREGAZIONE GENERALE DEL COLLEGIO CARDINALIZIO|date=7 March 2013|website=Vatican|language=it|access-date=7 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310181459/http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/07/news/30604.html|archive-date=10 March 2013}}

{{cite web|url=http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/05/news/30598.html|title=TELEGRAMMA DEL COLLEGIO CARDINALIZIO A SUA SANTITÀ IL PAPA EMERITO BENEDETTO XVI|date=5 March 2013|website=Vatican|language=it|access-date=7 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309020722/http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/05/news/30598.html|archive-date=9 March 2013}}{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-cardinal-george-pope-0307-20130307,0,3369834.story |title=As papal conclave draws near, American cardinals grow silent |work=Chicago Tribune |date=6 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307080259/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-cardinal-george-pope-0307-20130307,0,3369834.story |archive-date=7 March 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-sex-abuse-0307-20130307,0,7784915.story |title=Cardinal Francis George: Ties to anyone guilty of sexual misconduct could call into question a cardinal's candidacy for pope |work=Chicago Tribune |date=7 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307075804/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-sex-abuse-0307-20130307,0,7784915.story |archive-date=7 March 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-cardinal-george-pope-0306-20130306,0,2648936.story |title=Roman Catholic cardinals will set a date for the conclave to select a new pope once the field of candidates narrows, Cardinal Francis George says |work=Chicago Tribune |date=5 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306073411/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-cardinal-george-pope-0306-20130306,0,2648936.story |archive-date=6 March 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2013/news-briefs-cns-1301050.cfm |title=Cardinals need time to talk before conclave, spokesman says |publisher=Catholic News Service |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312084221/http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2013/news-briefs-cns-1301050.cfm |archive-date=12 March 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2013/news-briefs-cns-1301002.cfm |title=Cardinals O'Malley, DiNardo: No rush to set date for conclave |publisher=Catholic News Service |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312084440/http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2013/news-briefs-cns-1301002.cfm |archive-date=12 March 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{Excessive citations inline|date=September 2019}}

On 7 March, reporters were shown images of preparation work, including the installation of the chimney.{{cite web |last=Ann |first=Mary |url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/tech/LA-Papal-Chimney-Gets-Twitter-Account-196450791.html |title=Papal Chimney Gets Twitter Account |publisher=Nbclosangeles.com |date=8 March 2013 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107173453/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/tech/LA-Papal-Chimney-Gets-Twitter-Account-196450791.html |archive-date=7 November 2014 |url-status=live }} Cardinal Phạm Minh Mẫn was able to join the other 114 participating cardinal electors for the sixth general congregation the evening of 7 March. Seven more cardinals spoke; all 115 participating cardinal electors were present.

On 8 March, Lombardi announced that the cardinals would meet later that day and then announce the date for the start of the conclave, which they then set for 12 March. On 8 March, 153 cardinals, including all 115 participating electors, attended the seventh general congregation, where the cardinal dean announced that Cardinals Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja and Keith O'Brien would not be joining the conclave despite being eligible to vote.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Having met the conditions set for beginning the conclave, the cardinals chose Cardinal Prosper Grech to give the meditation at the beginning of the conclave. Eighteen cardinals spoke, bringing the total number of interventions to over 100. In light of International Women's Day, one speech was about the role of women in the church. Other topics added in this session were: interreligious dialogue, bioethics, the church's role in promoting justice in the world, collegiality in the church, and the need for the church's evangelisers to proclaim the Gospel.{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2013/voting-for-new-pope-to-begin-march-12.cfm |title=Voting for new pope to begin March 12 |publisher=Catholic News Service |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312083928/http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2013/voting-for-new-pope-to-begin-march-12.cfm |archive-date=12 March 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Press Conference on the Sixth and Seventh General Congregations of the College of Cardinals|url=http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/08/news/30606.html#TRADUZIONE%20IN%20LINGUA%20INGLESE|access-date=10 June 2013|newspaper=Vatican News|date=8 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512030529/http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/2013/03/08/news/30606.html#TRADUZIONE%20IN%20LINGUA%20INGLESE|archive-date=12 May 2013|url-status=dead}}

On 11 March, the day before the conclave, the non-cardinal officials, support staff and other non-voting personnel who had duties during the conclave took the oath of secrecy in the presence of Camerlengo Tarcisio Bertone as prescribed in {{lang|la|Universi Dominici gregis}} as modified by {{lang|la|Normas nonnullas}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html|title=Universi Dominici Gregis Chapter II Sections 46-48, Chapter III Section 55. English text|publisher=Vatican.va|access-date=10 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408114224/http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html|archive-date=8 April 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20130222_normas-nonnullas_en.html|title=Normas Nonnullas No. 46-48 English text|publisher=Vatican.va|access-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303015240/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20130222_normas-nonnullas_en.html|archive-date=3 March 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite AV media | title = Non-voting participants in conclave take oath of secrecy | medium = Television production | language = it, en | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnNIoVPFkYA | access-date = 2 February 2014 | date = 12 March 2013 | publisher = Rome Reports | location = Rome | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140629183718/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnNIoVPFkYA | archive-date = 29 June 2014 | url-status = live }}{{cite AV media | title = Conclave oath of secrecy | medium = Television production | language = it | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAcwpWcv1Jo | access-date = 2 February 2014 | date = 11 March 2013 | publisher = Catholic News Service | location = Rome | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140630043647/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAcwpWcv1Jo | archive-date = 30 June 2014 | url-status = live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2013/documents/ns_lit_doc_20130311_giuramento-conclave_it.html|title=Notificazione Giuramento degli Officiali e addetti al Conclave (Oath of the Officials and the Employees at the Conclave)|language=it|publisher=Vatican.va|access-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220012800/https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2013/documents/ns_lit_doc_20130311_giuramento-conclave_it.html|archive-date=20 February 2014|url-status=live}} Among those taking the oath were the secretary of the College of Cardinals Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri{{efn|As secretary of the College of Cardinals, Baldisseri was also designated to be the secretary for the cardinal-electors at the conclave}} and the master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations Monsignor Guido Marini. Msgr. Marini himself led the oath takers in reading the oath out loud. The oath bound them to absolute secrecy on anything they observed during the conclave pertaining to the new pope's election unless they were explicitly granted special faculty by the new pope or his successors. The oath also bound them to refrain from using any audio or visual recording equipment and recording anything pertaining to the papal election during the conclave. The penalty for breaking the oath was automatic excommunication. The non-electors took their oath in Italian and in the Pauline Chapel.

On Tuesday, 12 March, the cardinals present in Rome, both voting and non-voting, gathered in St. Peter's Basilica in the morning to concelebrate the Mass {{lang|la|pro eligendo Pontifice}} ({{lit|for the election of the Pontiff}}). The dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, was the principal concelebrant and gave the homily.{{cite AV media | title = Holy Mass "Pro eligendo Pontifice" | medium = Television production | language = it | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db7lXYpGRKk | access-date = 9 April 2013 | date = 12 March 2013 | publisher = Centro Televisivo Vaticano | location = Rome | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140414111902/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db7lXYpGRKk | archive-date = 14 April 2014 | url-status = live }} In the afternoon, the 115 cardinal electors assembled in the Pauline Chapel and walked in procession through the Sala Regia into the Sistine Chapel chanting the Litany of the Saints.{{cite AV media | title = Procession and entrance in Conclave | medium = Television production | language = it | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTtzyr5sBkc | access-date = 9 April 2013 | date = 12 March 2013 | publisher = Centro Televisivo Vaticano | location = Rome | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130402220733/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTtzyr5sBkc | archive-date = 2 April 2013 | url-status = live }} After taking their places, the Veni Creator Spiritus ("Come, Creator Spirit") was sung. The oath was read aloud by the presiding cardinal, Giovanni Battista Re, Cardinal Bishop of Sabina-Poggio Mirteto, the most senior cardinal in attendance. As at the previous conclave, they would swear to observe the norms prescribed by John Paul II's apostolic constitution {{lang|la|Universi Dominici gregis}}. In addition, they would swear to adhere to the rules prescribed by Benedict XVI in February. Then, each cardinal elector in order of seniority placed his hands on the Gospels and made the affirmation aloud in Latin.{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_lt.html |title=Universi Dominici Gregis Chapter III Section 53. Latin text. |access-date=13 March 2013 |publisher=Vatican.va |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311080957/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_lt.html |archive-date=11 March 2013 |url-status=live }}

{{Verse translation|{{lang|la|Et ego}} [prænomen] {{lang|la|Cardinalis}} [nomen] {{lang|la|spondeo, voveo ac iuro. Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec Sancta Dei Evangelia, quae manu mea tango.}}|And I, [forename] Cardinal [surname], do so promise, pledge, and swear. So help me God and these Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand.}}

While making the oath, several cardinals used the Latin forms of their names. The four cardinals from the Eastern Catholic churches were distinguished by their attire.{{efn|Antonios Naguib, Patriarch-Emeritus of the Coptic Catholic Church and Baselios Cleemis, Major-Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Church wore predominantly black vestments. Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi and Syro-Malabar Major Archbishop George Alencherry wore all-red vestments. All the cardinals wore Latin church birette and/or zucchetti except for the four Eastern Catholic cardinals: Cardinal Alencherry wore a Nasrani biretta without a zucchetto; Cardinals al-Rahi and Cleemis wore different headgear; and Cardinal Naguib was bareheaded.}} Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie of the Latin Church, the archbishop emeritus of Lagos, did not wear his mozzetta and was seated in a wheelchair through the procession and most of the proceedings but walked accompanied by an assistant and placed his hands on the gospels like the others when making the oath.

Monsignor Guido Marini, the papal master of ceremonies, called out the words {{lang|la|Extra omnes}} ("Everybody out!"), and the doors of the chapel were locked to outsiders.{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/2056/the_schedule_for_the_conclave_with_us_times.aspx |title=The schedule for the conclave (with U.S. times) |work=Catholic World Report |date=10 March 2013 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312143344/http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/2056/the_schedule_for_the_conclave_with_us_times.aspx |archive-date=12 March 2013 |url-status=live }} Once the doors were closed, the cardinal electors heard the second required meditation for the conclave, given by Cardinal Grech, who then left the conclave because he was not an elector. After the meditation, one ballot was taken.

Black smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney indicated to the outside world that on the first ballot no candidate had received the required two-thirds of the votes cast.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9925847/Black-smoke-and-no-Pope-after-first-vote-by-Cardinals.html|title=Black smoke and no Pope after first vote by Cardinals|date=12 March 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=13 March 2013|location=London|first=Nick|last=Squires|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316020557/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9925847/Black-smoke-and-no-Pope-after-first-vote-by-Cardinals.html|archive-date=16 March 2013|url-status=dead}} According to several media accounts of the first vote, Scola and Ouellet led with roughly equal numbers of votes, Bergoglio was a close third, and the rest of the votes were scattered among several others.{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/409907/canadas-marc-ouellet-came-close-to-becoming-pope-media-reports-say/|title=Canada's Marc Ouellet came close to becoming pope, media reports say|last=Fisher|first=Matthew|date=15 March 2013|work=Global TV Edmonton|access-date=19 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315183133/http://globalnews.ca/news/409907/canadas-marc-ouellet-came-close-to-becoming-pope-media-reports-say/|archive-date=15 March 2017|url-status=live}} According to La Repubblica, Scola received approximately 35 votes to Bergoglio's 20 and Ouellet's 15,{{cite web|url= http://www.ilvelino.it/it/article/orenove5-papa-in-conclave-un-plebiscito-quasi-cento-voti/493c9365-6d5a-44a7-9763-11c9364f38d3|title= Orenove/5. Papa, in conclave un plebiscito: quasi cento voti|date= 19 March 2013|work= Il Velino|access-date= 19 March 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130621173429/http://www.ilvelino.it/it/article/orenove5-papa-in-conclave-un-plebiscito-quasi-cento-voti/493c9365-6d5a-44a7-9763-11c9364f38d3|archive-date= 21 June 2013|url-status= live}} while another account said that Scherer had shown strength. Some cardinals later said that "When they woke up Wednesday morning, it wasn't clear to them they'd have a pope that night, and it was even less clear it would be Bergoglio."

File:Papa Francisco recién elegido.jpg

The two rounds of voting on the morning of 13 March 2013 proved inconclusive, and black smoke was again sent out.{{efn|If there are two ballots at either time of day, they are burned together. Thus, there can be at most two smoke signals per day from the Sistine Chapel chimney.{{cite web |url=https://cnsblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/conclave-smoke-signal-timetable/ |title=Conclave smoke signal timetable |date=9 March 2013 |publisher=Cnsblog.wordpress.com |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316005423/http://cnsblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/conclave-smoke-signal-timetable/ |archive-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=live }}}} Cardinal Scola's candidacy stalled going into Wednesday, and votes began to converge around the candidacies of Ouellet and Bergoglio. Sources report that, at some point, Cardinal Ouellet threw his support behind Bergoglio; by the first afternoon ballot—the fourth ballot of the conclave—Bergoglio became the clear front runner. On the fifth ballot, the cardinal electors, wishing to show a unified front, voted overwhelmingly in favour of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, reportedly giving him at least 90 votes, with the remaining 25 votes going to the other cardinals.{{clarify|date=May 2025|reason=This seems to be at odds with the results of the final ballot as given below (85 votes for Bergoglio, 30 for other candidates).}} Cardinal Seán Brady reported that applause broke out during the tabulation when Bergoglio's count reached the 77 votes required for election.

According to Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, when Bergoglio was asked whether he would accept his election, he said: "Although I am a sinner, I accept." He took the name Francis, in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/13/papal-conclave-chooses-pope-day-two-live-coverage|title=Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio elected pontiff, takes name Pope Francis – live|date=13 March 2013|work=Guardian|access-date=13 March 2013|location=London|first1=Paul|last1=Owen|first2=Tom|last2=McCarthy|first3=David|last3=Batty|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204052629/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/13/papal-conclave-chooses-pope-day-two-live-coverage|archive-date=4 December 2013|url-status=live}} He later said that, while Bergoglio was choosing his papal name, some cardinal-electors jokingly suggested he should choose either "Adrian" after the great reformer Pope Adrian VI, or "Clement" out of revenge against Pope Clement XIV, who suppressed the Jesuit order.[https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/speeches/2013/march/documents/papa-francesco_20130316_rappresentanti-media_en.html Audience to Representatives of the Communications Media - Address of the Holy Father Pope Francis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402220159/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/speeches/2013/march/documents/papa-francesco_20130316_rappresentanti-media_en.html |date=2 April 2014 }} - Vatican.va - Paul VI Audience Hall Saturday, 16 March 2013.Marco R. della Cava, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/03/16/pope-francis-press-conference/1992355/ Pope Francis charms media in first press address] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825194800/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/03/16/pope-francis-press-conference/1992355/ |date=25 August 2017 }}, USA Today (16 March 2013). Retrieved 16 March 2013. At the conclusion of the conclave, Francis gave his cardinal's zucchetto to Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, the non-elector secretary of the conclave.{{cite web|url=http://pt.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/03/16/dom_lorenzo_baldisseri_recebe_solideu_cardinal%C3%ADcio/bra-673713|title=Dom Lorenzo Baldisseri recebe solideu cardinalício|publisher=Rádio Vaticano Portuguese section|language=pt|access-date=4 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519212810/http://pt.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/03/16/dom_lorenzo_baldisseri_recebe_solideu_cardinal%C3%ADcio/bra-673713|archive-date=19 May 2013|url-status=live}}{{efn|Traditionally if the new pope gave the conclave secretary his zucchetto it signalled he would name him a cardinal in the next consistory. This old tradition had last been practised by Pope John XXIII in 1958, when he placed his zucchetto on the head of Monsignor Alberto di Jorio, who was secretary of the conclave, and made him a cardinal in December of that year. Pope Francis included Baldisseri in the first group of cardinals he created on 22 February 2014.{{cite web | url=http://www.news.va/en/news/166955 | title=Annuncio di Concistoro per la Creazione di Nuovi Cardinali | publisher=The Vatican Today | date=12 January 2014 | access-date=12 January 2014 | language=it | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214043451/http://www.news.va/en/news/166955 | archive-date=14 December 2017 | url-status=live }}}}

At 19:06 CET (18:06 UTC), white smoke and the sounding of the bells of St. Peter's Basilica signalled that a pope had been chosen and shortly thereafter the Vatican web site was changed to say "{{lang|la|Habemus papam!}}{{-"}} ("We have a pope!").{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/ |title=Vatican: The Holy See |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314051332/http://www.vatican.va/ |archive-date=14 March 2013 |url-status=live }}

Cardinal Protodeacon Jean-Louis Tauran appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and announced the election of the new pope and his chosen name. Pope Francis appeared and asked the people to pray for him before he blessed the world, at which point the conclave concluded.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/world/europe/cardinals-elect-new-pope.html|title=Cardinals Pick Bergoglio, Who Will Be Pope Francis|date=13 March 2013|work=New York Times|access-date=13 March 2013|first=Rachel|last=Donadio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509061921/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/world/europe/cardinals-elect-new-pope.html|archive-date=9 May 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21781125 |title=Francis begins his challenging papacy |date=13 March 2013 |work=BBC News |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314164508/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21781125 |archive-date=14 March 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9928295/Cardinals-meet-to-choose-new-Pope-live.html|title=Jorge Mario Bergoglio elected new pope: as it happened|date=13 March 2013|work=Daily Telegraph|access-date=13 March 2013|location=London|first=Raf|last=Sanchez|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313185505/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9928295/Cardinals-meet-to-choose-new-Pope-live.html|archive-date=13 March 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pope-bergoglio-profile-20130314,0,7560806.story|title=Humility and simple life lead Jesuit to papacy|date=13 March 2013|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=13 March 2013|first=Tracy|last=Wilkinson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314184847/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pope-bergoglio-profile-20130314,0,7560806.story|archive-date=14 March 2013|url-status=live}}

A half-hour later, the Twitter account @Pontifex sent out a tweet that read "{{lang|la|HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM}}{{-"}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/new-popes-first-tweet-habemus-papam-franciscum-1C8852354|title=New pope's first tweet: 'HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM'|last=Choney|first=Suzanne|date=13 March 2013|newspaper=NBC News|access-date=9 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504110242/http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/new-popes-first-tweet-habemus-papam-franciscum-1C8852354|archive-date=4 May 2013}}

At 20:23 CET, the Italian Conference of Bishops released a statement erroneously congratulating Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan on his election as pope. A corrected statement was released at 21:09 CET.{{cite news|title=Italian bishops mistakenly hail Cardinal Angelo Scola as new pope|url=http://m.guardiannews.com/world/2013/mar/14/italian-cardinal-angelo-scola-pope|access-date=9 April 2013|newspaper=The Guardian (UK)|date=14 March 2013}}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} As cardinals described the voting process, carefully suppressing details so as not to violate their oath of secrecy, one offered this assessment that "Scola might have won" and "is obviously qualified to be pope", but there was "a very strong bias against the Italians". He added: "There was a sense that the Italians aren't up to the job anymore{{sic}}. They used to be so good, but lately they seem to have lost control of things." Commentators nonetheless noted that the election of Bergoglio was favoured by the fact that he was an Italian Argentine and as such fitting multiple requirements that made him likely to have support from Italian cardinals looking for candidates outside of Europe.{{Cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=JlExDwAAQBAJ&q=Italian+cardinals+Argentinian+of+Italian+ancestry&pg=PT768|title = Dictionary of Popes|isbn = 9780191044793|last1 = Kelly|first1 = J. N. D.|last2 = Walsh|first2 = Michael|date = 23 July 2015| publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date = 23 November 2020|archive-date = 12 January 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230112150520/https://books.google.com/books?id=JlExDwAAQBAJ&q=Italian+cardinals+Argentinian+of+Italian+ancestry&pg=PT768|url-status = live}}

Pope Francis celebrated his inauguration on 19 March 2013 and was installed as Bishop of Rome on 7 April.{{cite news|title=Pope installed as bishop of Rome, appeals to lapsed faithful|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-idUSBRE93608A20130407|access-date=11 April 2013|newspaper=Reuters|date=7 April 2013|first=Philip|last=Pullella|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410014626/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/07/us-pope-idUSBRE93608A20130407|archive-date=10 April 2013|url-status=live}}

In October 2013, the Italian weekly magazine Panorama claimed that the United States National Security Agency had targeted cardinals in the conclave for surveillance, including Cardinal Bergoglio.{{cite web |url=http://news.panorama.it/cronaca/urbi-et-orbi/papa-francesco-datagate |title=Esclusiva Panorama: Datagate, anche il Papa è stato intercettato - Panorama |language=it |work=Panorama |date=30 October 2013 |access-date=15 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116090838/http://news.panorama.it/cronaca/urbi-et-orbi/papa-francesco-datagate |archive-date=16 January 2014 |url-status=dead }} An NSA spokesperson denied this.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10415228/US-spied-on-future-Pope-Francis-during-Vatican-conclave.html|title=US 'spied on future Pope Francis during Vatican conclave'|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=29 April 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503163351/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10415228/US-spied-on-future-Pope-Francis-during-Vatican-conclave.html|archive-date=3 May 2017|url-status=dead}}

{{Hatnote|All results of the ballots are speculative.}}

According to the Vatican expert Gerard O'Connell, in the book The Election of Pope Francis, this would have been the results of the ballots:{{cite web|url=https://www.paeseitaliapress.it/storia-arte-cultura/2019/06/26/come-e-avvenuta-lelezione-di-papa-francesco-nel-libro-del-vaticanista-irlandese-gerard-oconnell/|title=How did the election of Pope Francis take place? In the book by the Irish Vatican expert Gerard O'Connell|date=26 June 2019 |access-date=30 October 2022}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book|last=O'Connell|first=Gerard|url=|title=The election of Pope Francis : an inside account of the conclave that changed history|date=2019|isbn=978-1-60833-781-1|location=Maryknoll|oclc=1084630296}}
• [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/11/the-political-science-of-papal-elections/ The political science of papal elections]

{{Wikinews|Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires elected as Pope Francis}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{YouTube|id=db7lXYpGRKk|title=Holy Mass Pro eligendo Pontifice (official video from the Vatican)}}
• {{YouTube|id=cTtzyr5sBkc|title=Procession and Entrance into the Conclave (official video from the Vatican)}}
• {{YouTube|id=fd5kNiBp1Lg|title=White Smoke and Habemus Papam (official video from the Vatican)}}
• [https://www.vatican.va/sede_vacante/2013/sede-vacante_en.htm Official Vatican website for the Sede Vacante]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21761977 Rome conclave begins: Highlights from Sistine Chapel]

{{Papal elections and conclaves from 1061}}

{{Pope Francis}}

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