Ubi periculum
Encyclopedia
Ubi periculum was a document promulgated by Pope Gregory X
during the Second Council of Lyon
in 1274 that established the papal conclave
as the method of selection for a pope
. The conclave formalized the tactics that had been adopted by the magistrates of Viterbo
against the cardinals in the protracted papal election of 1268–1271, which had produced Gregory X.
Historians have suggested that Gregory X's status as a non-cardinal prior to his election caused him to adopt such a policy that de-emphasized the interests of the College of Cardinals. The goal of Ubi periculum was to limit strategic maneuvering within papal elections to produce faster outcomes, thereby reducing the number of schisms and disputed elections.
Ubi periculum also copied from the election procedures of the Dominican
constitution of 1228 as well as the communes of Venice
(1229) and Piacenza
(1233).
The new election rules limited each cardinal to two servants, prevented them from leaving or communicating with the outside world, and restricted the menu progressively on the fourth and ninth days; these rules were frequently bent and sometimes broken entirely in the ensuing conclaves of the next centuries.
Although the first election following Ubi periculum observed its rules and took only one day, its application was suspended and the elections of 1277
, 1280–1281
, 1287–1288
, and 1292–1294
were long and drawn out until Pope Celestine V
(another non-cardinal and relative outsider) reinstituted the law of the conclave.
Pope Gregory X
Pope Blessed Gregory X , born Tebaldo Visconti, was Pope from 1271 to 1276. He was elected by the papal election, 1268–1271, the longest papal election in the history of the Roman Catholic Church....
during the Second Council of Lyon
Second Council of Lyon
The Second Council of Lyon was the fourteenth ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, convoked on 31 March 1272 and convened in Lyon, France, in 1274. Pope Gregory X presided over the council, called to act on a pledge by Byzantine emperor Michael VIII to reunite the Eastern church with the West...
in 1274 that established the papal conclave
Papal conclave
A papal conclave is a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishop of Rome, who then becomes the Pope during a period of vacancy in the papal office. The Pope is considered by Roman Catholics to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter and earthly head of the Roman Catholic Church...
as the method of selection for a pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. The conclave formalized the tactics that had been adopted by the magistrates of Viterbo
Viterbo
See also Viterbo, Texas and Viterbo UniversityViterbo is an ancient city and comune in the Lazio region of central Italy, the capital of the province of Viterbo. It is approximately 80 driving / 80 walking kilometers north of GRA on the Via Cassia, and it is surrounded by the Monti Cimini and...
against the cardinals in the protracted papal election of 1268–1271, which had produced Gregory X.
Historians have suggested that Gregory X's status as a non-cardinal prior to his election caused him to adopt such a policy that de-emphasized the interests of the College of Cardinals. The goal of Ubi periculum was to limit strategic maneuvering within papal elections to produce faster outcomes, thereby reducing the number of schisms and disputed elections.
Ubi periculum also copied from the election procedures of the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
constitution of 1228 as well as the communes of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
(1229) and Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
(1233).
The new election rules limited each cardinal to two servants, prevented them from leaving or communicating with the outside world, and restricted the menu progressively on the fourth and ninth days; these rules were frequently bent and sometimes broken entirely in the ensuing conclaves of the next centuries.
Although the first election following Ubi periculum observed its rules and took only one day, its application was suspended and the elections of 1277
Papal election, 1277
The papal election from May 30, 1277 to November 25, 1277, convened in Viterbo after the death of Pope John XXI, was the smallest papal election since the expansion of suffrage to cardinal-priests and cardinal-deacons, with only seven cardinal electors...
, 1280–1281
Papal election, 1280–1281
The papal election from September 22, 1280 to February 22, 1281 elected Simon de Brion, who took the name Pope Martin IV, as the successor to Pope Nicholas III....
, 1287–1288
Papal election, 1287–1288
The papal election from April 4, 1287 to February 22, 1288 was the deadliest papal election in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, with six of the sixteen cardinal electors perishing during the deliberations. Eventually, the cardinals elected Girolamo Masci, O.Min...
, and 1292–1294
Papal election, 1292–1294
The papal election from April 5, 1292 to July 5, 1294 was the last papal election which did not take the form of a papal conclave...
were long and drawn out until Pope Celestine V
Pope Celestine V
Pope Saint Celestine V, born Pietro Angelerio , also known as Pietro da Morrone was elected pope in the year 1294, by the papal election of 1292–1294, the last non-conclave in the history of the Roman Catholic Church...
(another non-cardinal and relative outsider) reinstituted the law of the conclave.