Papal conclave, 1513
Coat of arms during the vacancy of the Holy See
|
|
| Dates and location | |
|---|---|
| 4-11 March 1513 Chapel of S. Nicolas, Vatican Apostolic Palace, Rome |
|
| Key officials | |
| Dean | Raffaele Riario |
| Camerlengo | Raffaele Riario |
| Protopriest | Tamás Bakócz |
| Protodeacon | Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici |
| Election | |
| Ballots | 2 |
| Elected Pope | |
|
Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici Name taken: Leo X |
|
 |
|
The papal conclave of 1513, occasioned by the death of Pope Julius II on 21 February 1513, opened on 4 March with twenty-five cardinals in attendance, out of a total number of thirty-one. The Conclave was presided over by Cardinal Raffaele Sansoni Riario, who was both Dean of the College of Cardinals and Cardinal Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church (Camerlengo). Voting began on 10 March, and there were only two Scrutinies. Negotiations after the first balloting led to the election of Giovanni de'Medici, the son of Lorenzo the Magnificent and the de facto ruler of Florence, as Pope Leo X on the morning of 11 March.
Most of the cardinals were already in Rome at the time of the death of Pope Julius II, on 21 February 1513. They had been participating in the Fifth Lateran Council, which had been summoned by the Pope to deal with the most pressing problems facing the Church. Julius II was so ill that he was not able to attend the Fifth Session on 16 February, but nineteen cardinals were present. Cardinal Riario presided in the Pope's absence. It was at that Session that Julius had solemnly republished his famous Bull, Cum tam divino, forbidding the buying and selling of sacred things (simony), and most especially the papal office. The Bull was approved by the Council, which was then recessed until April 11. At the Conclave, therefore, the continuation of the Council was a major concern, and was written into the Electoral Capitulations. At his last audience for the Cardinals, on 19 February, Pope Julius advised the Cardinals not to allow the schismatic cardinals from the 'Council of Pisa' to take part in the Conclave, nor to allow the Ecumenical Council any part in the proceedings.
In fact, the death of the Pope had been expected for some weeks. It had been reported generally (the Venetians knew it on 10 February) that the Pope was suffering from a double tertian fever (malaria), and that his doctors held little hope for his recovery. King Louis XII of France had been kept informed of the situation, and it was reported in Florence on 14 February that he had ordered the French cardinals to hasten their journey to Rome. He also wrote to the College of Cardinals, advising them not to rush into voting for a new pope, but to await the arrival of the French cardinals.
...
Wikipedia