Behind Locked Doors

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

   PDF

2. From Apostle to Pope

   • Frederic J. Baumgartner

   Pages 1-18

3. Election by the College of Cardinals, 1059–1274

   • Frederic J. Baumgartner

   Pages 19-38

4. The Creation of the Conclave

   • Frederic J. Baumgartner

   Pages 39-58

5. Conclaves during The Great Schism

   • Frederic J. Baumgartner

   Pages 59-76

6. Conclaves in the Renaissance

   • Frederic J. Baumgartner

   Pages 77-100

7. Conclaves in the Reformation Era

   • Frederic J. Baumgartner

   Pages 101-126

8. Conclaves in the Baroque Era

   • Frederic J. Baumgartner

   Pages 127-150

9. Conclaves in the Age of Absolutism

   • Frederic J. Baumgartner

   Pages 151-178

10. Conclaves in the Nineteenth Century

    • Frederic J. Baumgartner

    Pages 179-199

11. Conclaves in the Twentieth Century

    • Frederic J. Baumgartner

    Pages 201-227

12. And On to the Twenty-first Century

    • Frederic J. Baumgartner

    Pages 229-240

13. Back Matter

    Pages 241-272

    PDF

Since 1600, whenever a Pope dies, the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church convene in Rome to elect a successor. The Papal Conclave is an event like no other. Highly secret and conducted behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, it happens about eight times every century. It is an event that has evolved over the centuries and is always filled with high drama: cardinals meeting en masse in their scarlet robes, throngs of the faithful standing watch in St. Peter's Square, the black or white smoke billowing from the chimney signalling the election of a new Pontiff Since secrecy was not heavily invoked until the twentieth century, there is a vast store of rich material to work from and Fred Baumgartner uses it to its utmost detailing the bickering and blatant politicking that goes on behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel in this important and timely book.

• 20. Jahrhundert
• 20th century
• absolutism
• catholics
• history
• Pope
• reformation
• Renaissance

'Frederic Baumgartner's book is well balanced, both in its wide sweep of centuries and in fairness to individuals, be they popes, cardinals or monarchs...this history will give us an understanding of the evolution of the world's oldest elected institution. It should be made required reading for the college of cardinals, and perhaps presented to a new Eminence with his red hat.' - Richard Mullen, Catholic Herald

'There is something irresistibly exciting about a papal election - but reading this fascinating and scholarly account of elections over 200 years, it seems the forthcoming conclave will be one of the dullest in history...The use of white smoke, along with the strict secrecy, Baumgartner shows, is an innovation scarcely more than 100 years old. But the process is still a fascinating one, as this readable, very well researched and interesting book proves.' - David McLaurin, Church Times

'It's surely no surprise that a history of papal elections is largely a history of bad behaviour: self aggrandisement, corruption, bribery, nepotism, greed and cynical manipulation.' - Barney Zwartz, The Age

FREDERIC J. BAUMGARTNER is Professor of History at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg. He is the author of many books including Louis XII, France in the Sixteenth Century and Longing for the End.

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