Papal conclave, 1829
Encyclopedia
The papal conclave held after the death of Pope Leo XII
on February 10, 1829 to elect his successor began on February 24, 1829.
It took a long time to make a decision because of conflict between secular governments about who should be elected. Cardinal
Emmanuele De Gregorio
was the proposed candidate of the pro-French faction and the zelanti
, whilst Bartolomeo Pacca was proposed by the more moderate cardinals but was not accepted by the French government of the Bourbon Restoration
period. At the time France was governed by Charles X of France
and Prime Minister Jean Baptiste Gay, vicomte de Martignac
. Pacca was also seen as too gentle to be an effective Pope by many in the conclave.
The conclave did not move rapidly, however. The arrival of Giuseppe Albani caused the votes to center instead on Francesco Saverio Castiglioni. With the supporters of either De Gregorio or Pacca unable to win enough votes to become Pope, Castiglioni became seen as a suitable compromise candidate. He had been close to election in the 1823 conclave
as the representative of the politicanti (moderate cardinals) and had all the qualifications to become Pope, but had the problem of being in very poor health.
On March 31, Castiglioni was elected Pope. Given that Castiglioni had been called Pius VIII by Pope Pius VII
even before his death in 1823, and that in the 1823 conclave Leo XII said he "some day was to be Pius VIII", it was a foregone conclusion that he would take that regnal name
upon becoming Pope.
Pope Leo XII
Pope Leo XII , born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiore Girolamo Nicola Sermattei della Genga, was Pope from 1823 to 1829.-Life:...
on February 10, 1829 to elect his successor began on February 24, 1829.
It took a long time to make a decision because of conflict between secular governments about who should be elected. Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Emmanuele De Gregorio
Emmanuele de Gregorio
Emmanuele de Gregorio was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.De Gregorio was born on at sea while his mother was travelling to Spain. Although he had one other cardinal among his relatives, no other information about his early life survives...
was the proposed candidate of the pro-French faction and the zelanti
Zelanti
In Roman Catholicism, the expression zelanti has been applied to conservative members of the clergy and their lay supporters since the thirteenth century. Its specific connotations have shifted with each reapplication of the label...
, whilst Bartolomeo Pacca was proposed by the more moderate cardinals but was not accepted by the French government of the Bourbon Restoration
Bourbon Restoration
The Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
period. At the time France was governed by Charles X of France
Charles X of France
Charles X was known for most of his life as the Comte d'Artois before he reigned as King of France and of Navarre from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. A younger brother to Kings Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, he supported the latter in exile and eventually succeeded him...
and Prime Minister Jean Baptiste Gay, vicomte de Martignac
Jean Baptiste Gay, vicomte de Martignac
Jean-Baptiste Sylvère Gay, vicomte de Martignac was a moderate royalist French statesman during the Bourbon Restoration 1814–30 under King Charles X....
. Pacca was also seen as too gentle to be an effective Pope by many in the conclave.
The conclave did not move rapidly, however. The arrival of Giuseppe Albani caused the votes to center instead on Francesco Saverio Castiglioni. With the supporters of either De Gregorio or Pacca unable to win enough votes to become Pope, Castiglioni became seen as a suitable compromise candidate. He had been close to election in the 1823 conclave
Papal conclave, 1823
Following the death of Pope Pius VII on August 20, 1823, a papal conclave was held to determine his successor.Pius VII had reigned as Pope for what was then considered a very long pontificate...
as the representative of the politicanti (moderate cardinals) and had all the qualifications to become Pope, but had the problem of being in very poor health.
On March 31, Castiglioni was elected Pope. Given that Castiglioni had been called Pius VIII by Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
even before his death in 1823, and that in the 1823 conclave Leo XII said he "some day was to be Pius VIII", it was a foregone conclusion that he would take that regnal name
Regnal name
A regnal name, or reign name, is a formal name used by some monarchs and popes during their reigns. Since medieval times, monarchs have frequently chosen to use a name different from their own personal name when they inherit a throne....
upon becoming Pope.
| Duration | 35 days |
|---|---|
| Electors | 50 |
| Veto used | against Cardinal Pacca by France. |
| DECEASED POPE | LEO XII (1823-1829) |
| NEW POPE | PIUS VIII (1829-1830) |