what is conclave

A conclave primarily refers to a private or secret meeting or assembly. Most notably, in the context of the Roman Catholic Church, a conclave is the formal, secret gathering where the College of Cardinals convenes to elect a new pope. This process takes place in seclusion, traditionally within the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, where the cardinals are locked in until they elect a new pontiff. The word "conclave" comes from the Latin "cum clave," meaning "with a key," reflecting this tradition of locked doors to ensure privacy. During the papal conclave, cardinals under the age of 80 vote to choose the next pope. The voting continues, typically with multiple ballots each day, until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. The result is signaled to the public by smoke coming from the chapel's chimney—black smoke indicates no pope was chosen, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope. The elected pope is then announced with the phrase "Habemus papam," meaning "We have a pope." This confidential and highly ritualized event ensures the continuity of leadership in the Catholic Church. More broadly, "conclave" can also refer to any private or secretive meeting or assembly of a group or association. In summary, a conclave is a secretive and often solemn meeting, most famously the gathering of Catholic cardinals to elect a pope.