Papal conclave, 1294

The papal conclave of December 23–24, 1294 was convoked after the abdication of Pope Celestine V in Naples. It was the first papal conclave after Celestine V restored the constitution "Ubi periculum" of Pope Gregory X, suspended by Pope Adrian V in July 1276. From that time every papal election has been a papal conclave. It was also the only papal conclave held during the lifetime of the preceding pontiff [Although Pope Gregory XII also abdicated the papacy in 1415, the conclave for the election of his successor was held few weeks after his death (he died on October 18, 1417, and the conclave took place November 8 — 11, 1417)] .

Abdication of Celestine V

Celestine V, founder of the Order of Celestines, widely esteemed and venerated for his holiness, was elected to the papacy on July 7, 1294, as a compromise choice after an over two-years long "sede vacante". It quickly became clear that this saintly eremite was wholly incompetent and unsuited for a job as pope. Admitting his own incompetence soon after his election, Celestine expressed the wish to abdicate and return to his solitary cave in the Abruzzi Mountains. However, before doing so he issued two bulls. The first bull established the regulations concerning the abdication of a pope. The second bull ("Quia in futurum", September 28, 1294) restored the constitution "Ubi periculum", which established the papal conclave; the constitution had been suspended by Pope Adrian V in July 1276. During his short papacy, he also created 13 new cardinals [ [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/consistories-xiii.htm#CelestineV Salvador Miranda: Cardinals created by St. Celestine V] ] . Eventually, on December 13, 1294, Celestine V abdicated the papacy at Naples [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03479b.htm Celestine V] ] , three days after confirming the restoration of the institution of the papal conclave [ [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/guide-xiii.htm Salvador Miranda: The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Guide to the events and documents, XIII century] ] .

It has been widely stated that the alleged great influence of the ambitious Cardinal Benedetto Caetani and the pressure he applied on Celestine V were important factors in Celestine's decision to abdicate, but it seems nearly as certain that it was an entirely voluntarily step of the Pope, with the role of Caetani limited to participation in the solution of the legal problems connected with the resignation of a pope. In particular, there were doubts whether a pope could resign at all, and who would be authorized to accept such a resignation. [( [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02662a.htm The Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope Boniface VIII] )]

List of participants

All twenty-two living cardinals participated in the conclave; twelve of them were created by Celestine V, five by Nicholas IV, two by Nicholas III, one by Urban IV and one by Honorius IV [F. Bourkle-Young: notes to the papal election of 1294 on [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/conclave-xiii.htm#1294A The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church (by S. Miranda)] ; and K. Eubel, p. 11–12. F. Bourkle-Young lists one additional cardinal Francesco Ronci, priest of the title of S. Lorenzo in Damaso, as the only absentee but he actually died on October 13, 1294, two months before the conclave was held (K. Eubel, p. 12)] :

Election of Pope Boniface VIII

On December 23, 1294, the cardinals assembled in the Castel Nuovo at Naples for the election of the successor of Celestine V. In the first ballot of the evening of that day Cardinal Matteo Orsini Rosso was elected but he refused to accept the papal dignity. On the next day, Christmas Eve, Cardinal Benedetto Caetani, archpriest of the College, received the required majority and took the name of Boniface VIII [Dr. F. Bourkle-Young: notes to conclave of 1294 on the [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/conclave-xiii.htm#1294A The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church by S. Miranda] ] . Soon after his election he returned to Rome, where on January 23, 1295, he was consecrated to the episcopate by Cardinal-Dean Hugh Aycelin of Ostia, and crowned by Matteo Orsini Rosso, who was archdeacon of the Sacred College [S. Miranda: [http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios1281.htm#Caetani Cardinal Benedetto Caetani (Pope Boniface VIII] )] .

Notes

ources

Konrad Eubel, "Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi, volumen I", 1913

[http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/conclave-xiii.htm#1294A F. Bourkle-Young: notes to the papal election of 1294 (The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church by S. Miranda)]

[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03479b.htm The Catholic Encyclopedia: Celestine V]

[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02662a.htm The Catholic Encyclopedia:Boniface VIII]