The Swift Verdict: Unpacking The Two-Day Mystery Of Pope Francis’ Conclave

The 2013 Papal Conclave, which resulted in the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis, lasted a remarkably brief period: just two days. This swift decision, concluded on March 13, 2013, was a powerful signal from the College of Cardinals, demonstrating a strong, rapid consensus for a new direction in the Catholic Church following the unprecedented resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. The speed of the election—requiring only five ballots—immediately captured global attention, hinting at a clear frontrunner and a sense of urgency among the 115 Cardinal electors to address the challenges facing the Holy See at the time. The process began on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 12, 2013, with the *Pro Eligendo Pontifice* Mass and the formal entry of the cardinals into the Sistine Chapel. By the late afternoon of the very next day, the iconic white smoke—*Habemus Papam*—billowed from the chimney, confirming the election of the first Jesuit and first Pope from the Americas. This article dives deep into the timeline, the internal dynamics, and the hidden reasons behind one of the shortest conclaves in modern history, an event that continues to define the early years of the current pontificate.

The Man Behind the Name: Pope Francis' Pre-Conclave Biography

The speed of the 2013 election was largely a function of the elected man's history and reputation. Jorge Mario Bergoglio was not an unknown quantity; he was a highly respected, albeit reluctant, candidate who had already been a major contender in the previous conclave.

• Birth Name: Jorge Mario Bergoglio
• Date of Birth: December 17, 1936
• Place of Birth: Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Parents: Mario José Bergoglio (Italian immigrant accountant) and Regina María Sívori
• Religious Order: Society of Jesus (Jesuit)
• Key Appointments: Archbishop of Buenos Aires (1998–2013); Cardinal (2001–2013)
• Previous Conclave Experience: Widely reported to have been the runner-up to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) in the 2005 Papal Conclave.
• Reputation: Known for his personal humility, simple lifestyle, and deep commitment to the poor, which contrasted with the pomp often associated with the Roman Curia.
• Significance: First Pope from the Americas, first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first Jesuit Pope.

Bergoglio's reputation as a reformer and his proven popularity among a significant bloc of cardinals from outside the Roman Curia—a group often referred to as the "St. Gallen Group" or a similar reformist faction—meant that a large number of votes were ready to coalesce around him almost immediately. His near-election in 2005 established him as a viable and non-controversial alternative to the European candidates, laying the groundwork for the swift decision eight years later.

A Timeline of Consensus: The Five Ballots in Two Days

The brevity of the 2013 conclave is best understood by tracking the timeline of the five ballots. The election process, governed by the Apostolic Constitution *Universi Dominici Gregis*, requires a two-thirds majority of the Cardinal electors to select the new Roman Pontiff. With 115 voting cardinals present, the magic number for election was 77 votes.

Day 1: Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The Conclave officially began with the *Extra Omnes* (Latin for "everyone out") command, sealing the 115 Cardinal electors inside the Sistine Chapel.

• Ballot 1 (Late Afternoon): The first ballot was held. Historically, the first vote is often a "test vote," scattering support among various candidates to gauge the field. The black smoke that emerged shortly after 7:40 PM local time confirmed no candidate had reached the 77-vote threshold. This ballot, however, likely revealed the initial strength of the leading contenders, including Bergoglio and others like Cardinal Angelo Scola and Cardinal Marc Ouellet.

The quick return to the Sistine Chapel the next morning suggested that the initial ballot had not led to a deep deadlock, but rather a clear direction for the subsequent voting.

Day 2: Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The second day saw a rapid succession of votes, indicating a swift consolidation of support.

• Ballot 2 (Morning): The first vote of the morning was taken. The black smoke appeared around 11:40 AM. While not a successful vote, it showed a significant shift, likely confirming Bergoglio's status as the leading candidate.
• Ballot 3 (Morning): A second vote was taken before the mid-day break. The black smoke again signaled no election, but sources later suggested that Bergoglio's support was rapidly approaching the necessary two-thirds majority. The momentum was clearly building.
• Ballot 4 (Afternoon): Following the lunch break, the Cardinals returned. This ballot was crucial. The votes for the primary competitors began to drain away, transferring to the leading candidate.
• Ballot 5 (Late Afternoon): The fifth and final ballot was cast. At 7:06 PM local time, the world watched as the unmistakable white smoke poured from the chimney, followed by the ringing of the bells of St. Peter's Basilica. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio had been elected Pope.

The entire process, from the sealing of the doors to the announcement of the new Pope, took less than 26 hours, making it the shortest conclave of the last century, tied only with the 1939 election of Pope Pius XII.

The Hidden Dynamics: Why the Conclave Was So Swift

The speed of the 2013 conclave was not a historical fluke; it was the result of several converging factors that created an atmosphere of urgency and facilitated a rapid consensus among the Cardinal electors. This "swift verdict" was a direct response to the unique circumstances of the Holy See in 2013.

1. The Urgency of Benedict XVI’s Resignation

Pope Benedict XVI's unprecedented resignation on February 28, 2013, had left the Church in a state of shock and uncertainty. This created a palpable sense of crisis and a need for immediate, decisive leadership. Unlike a conclave following the death of a Pope, where mourning and tradition can slow the process, the 2013 conclave was driven by a desire to quickly stabilize the Church and appoint a strong, unifying figure. The Cardinals, therefore, entered the *General Congregations*—the pre-conclave meetings—with a clear mandate to find a solution swiftly.

2. The Pre-Conclave Consensus in General Congregations

The two weeks of General Congregations held before the conclave were arguably more important than the conclave itself. During these meetings, the Cardinal electors discussed the Church's challenges, including the Vatileaks scandal and the need for Curial reform. It was here that the profile of the next Pope emerged: someone from outside the Roman Curia, a pastoral figure, and a reformer. Cardinal Bergoglio, known for his administrative competence in Buenos Aires and his personal simplicity, fit this description perfectly. The consensus was largely formed *before* the first ballot was cast.

3. The "Bergoglio Factor" from 2005

As the runner-up in the 2005 conclave, Bergoglio was a pre-vetted, highly-respected candidate. Many Cardinals who had voted for him then were still present in 2013. This provided a ready-made, cohesive bloc of votes that could quickly consolidate support, preventing the splintering of votes that often prolongs papal elections. His humility and perceived distance from the Vatican’s internal politics made him a strong choice for Cardinals seeking a clean break from recent controversies.

4. The Desire for a Non-European Pope

The College of Cardinals was increasingly diverse in 2013, with a significant number of electors from the Global South. The desire to elect the first non-European Pope in over 1,200 years was a powerful, unifying narrative. Bergoglio, an Argentinian, satisfied this geographical shift, appealing to Cardinals who wanted the Church's leadership to reflect its global composition. In summary, the two-day conclave was a testament to the Cardinal electors' collective will to find a quick, clear resolution. The election of Pope Francis on the fifth ballot was not a sudden surprise, but the culmination of a rapidly built consensus around a candidate who was already a known quantity, a proven reformer, and the ideal leader for a Church in need of immediate and visible renewal.