You know, when people ask "what was the longest conclave?", most don't realize they're opening a door to one of the wildest episodes in religious history. Seriously, imagine this: 33 cardinals locked in a palace for almost three years while angry townspeople tore off the roof and put them on bread-and-water rations. This isn't some medieval legend – it actually happened between 1268 and 1271 in Viterbo, Italy. As someone who's visited the actual palace where this went down, I still get chills thinking about the desperation inside those walls. Let's unpack why this record-setting papal election took so dang long and how it changed the Church forever.
Key Facts at a Glance
The Longest Conclave Ever: Viterbo, 1268-1271 (33 months)
Location: Palazzo dei Papi, Viterbo (still standing today)
Participants: 33 cardinal electors
Result: Election of Gregory X
Game-Changer: Prompted the creation of modern conclave rules
Visiting Today: Open Tue-Sun 10am-7pm, €8 entry fee (highly recommended)
Why This Crazy-Long Conclave Happened
Picture this: It's November 1268. Pope Clement IV just died, and the cardinals gather in Viterbo (safer than Rome during political chaos). Now, medieval papal elections were never quick, but nobody expected this nightmare. The main culprits for the deadlock?
- Politics over piety – French vs Italian factions hated each other more than they cared about choosing a pope
- Outside interference – Kings Charles of Anjou and Alfonso of Castille kept bullying cardinals
- Personal ambitions – Several cardinals thought "Hey, maybe I should be pope" and blocked others
Funny thing is, the locals got fed up faster than the cardinals. After a year with no pope, Viterbo's mayor literally locked them in the papal palace – clave cum clave (with a key), hence "conclave". When that longest conclave in history still dragged on? They tore off the roof in summer 1270 "to let in the Holy Spirit" (translation: make them sweat) and restricted food to bread/water. Honestly, I think modern HOA boards could learn from this level of pressure tactics.
The Agonizing Timeline
The Game-Changing Outcome
After 1006 days – yes, someone actually counted – they compromised on Tedaldo Visconti, a guy who wasn't even a cardinal! He was crusading in Palestine when elected. When news reached him, legend says he replied "You've got to be kidding me" (or the medieval equivalent). He became Gregory X and immediately called the Second Council of Lyon in 1274.
Here's where things get fascinating: Gregory basically invented modern conclave rules because he never wanted another endless election. His reforms included:
- Cardinals locked in immediately after pope's death
- No outside communication (take that, King Charles!)
- Food rationing after 5 days (Viterbo style)
- Only bread/water/wine after 8 days
Weirdly, the Vatican today still uses variations of these 750-year-old rules. Makes you wonder why they didn't fix the roof thing though.
Other Marathon Papal Elections
While Viterbo holds the undisputed record, other conclaves made cardinals sweat. Here's a comparison:
| Year | Location | Duration | Outcome | Wild Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1268-1271 | Viterbo | 33 months | Gregory X | Roof removed to force decision |
| 1292-1294 | Perugia | 27 months | Celestine V | Elected hermit who resigned after 5 months |
| 1314-1316 | Carpentras/Lyon | 27 months | John XXII | Cardinals fled after locals attacked palace |
| 1740 | Rome | 6 months | Benedict XIV | Deadlock broken during Lenten fast |
| 1830-1831 | Rome | 54 days | Gregory XVI | Last election taking over a month |
Notice how all extreme delays happened before Gregory's reforms? His system actually worked. Modern conclaves rarely exceed a week – though the 2013 election of Francis took 5 ballots over 2 days, which felt long by contemporary standards.
Why People Still Care About This Historic Mess
You might wonder why a 750-year-old election matters. Well, visiting Viterbo's papal palace (open Tue-Sun 10am-7pm), you feel the drama. The actual room where cardinals slept is smaller than your apartment. No AC, no plumbing, just stone walls and desperation. Beyond tourism, though:
- It explains why conclaves exist – Those rules didn't come from nowhere
- Shows Church adaptability – They turned chaos into lasting procedure
- Reveals political tensions – France vs Italy, monarchy vs Church power struggles
Frankly, I think modern politicians could learn from this. When deadlocked for years, maybe we should remove their roofs too.
What Modern Conclaves Learned
The Viterbo disaster directly shaped today's papal elections. Key improvements include:
- Sistine Chapel – Secure venue prevents outside influence
- Strict secrecy – No leaks or external communication
- Two-thirds majority requirement – Prevents indefinite stalemates
- Modern comforts (sort of) – They have beds now! Though still no Twitter.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Viterbo conclave lasted 1,006 days (33 months) from November 1268 to September 1271. This record hasn't been threatened since.
Practically impossible. Gregory X's reforms prevent it – after 34 ballots, cardinals can elect by simple majority. Also, cardinals now stay in comfortable dormitories (Domus Sanctae Marthae), not leaky-roofed palaces. Hunger isn't a motivator anymore.
Most continued Church careers. Ironically, the chief obstructionist – Cardinal Ottobuono Fieschi – became pope himself (Adrian V) just five years later! He lasted only 38 days though. Karma?
Surprisingly effective! Despite his unusual election, he:
- Established conclave procedures still used today
- Reunited Eastern/Western churches temporarily at Lyon II
- Planned new crusades (though died before launching)
He died just 4 years after election but left an outsized legacy.
Palazzo dei Papi in Viterbo, Italy (about 50 miles north of Rome). Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-7pm. Tickets €8. From Rome, take regional train to Viterbo Porta Fiorentina (90 mins), then 15-min walk. Don't miss the Loggia delle Benedizioni where they tore off the roof!
The Lasting Impact of History's Longest Papal Selection
So what was the longest conclave? More than just a trivia answer. That chaotic 33-month standoff forced the Church to create orderly election rules that survived centuries. Next time you see white smoke from the Sistine Chapel within days, remember Viterbo's ordeal. Honestly, without that disastrous deadlock, we might still have cardinals locked in buildings indefinitely. Makes modern elections look downright efficient. Still, part of me wonders – did they at least have decent wine during those bread-and-water rations? Some things history doesn't record.
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