Papal Election's Short Latin Phrase

Latin Phrases for the Papal Election: A Quick Guide

Papal Election's Short Latin Phrase

Get a leg up during the upcoming papal election: here's a crash course on some key Latin terms that'll make you feel like a modern-day cardinal. The Vatican still speaks its ancient language, so it's useful to know a few basic phrases.

With the papal election looming, familiarizing yourself with Latin can be beneficial. Even though everyday life doesn't necessarily require "Little Latin" or "Great" Latin, understanding some terms can help you follow the process more closely when the Vatican convenes. After all, many of the words we use every day are of Latin origin, including "conclave," which means "with the key" – just like how the cardinals are locked in the Sistine Chapel.

Here are some essential phrases to get you started:

Key Terms and Phrases

1. Pro eligendo Romano Pontifice: This is the title of the Mass for the papal election with all cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica on the Wednesday before the electors retire to the Sistine Chapel, meaning "for electing the Roman Pontiff."
2. Extra omnes: When the master of ceremonies orders everyone to leave the Sistine Chapel just before the election, he'll say "Extra omnes," which means "Everyone out."
3. Et ego spondeo, voveo ac iuro. Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec Sancta Dei Evangelia, quae manu mea tango: After the electors are on their own, they'll take part in an oath to uphold secrecy, with the leader of the conclave reading the oath formula, which goes: "And I promise, pledge, and swear it, so help me God and these holy Gospels that I touch with my hand."
4. Eligo in Summum Pontificem: The text printed on each ballot used by the cardinals to choose the new pope is "Eligo in Summum Pontificem," which means "I elect as Supreme Pontiff." Below that, each cardinal writes the name of his chosen candidate.
5. "Testor Christum Dominum, qui me iudicaturus est, me eum eligere, quem secundum Deum iudico eligi debere": When submitting a ballot, each cardinal promises, "I call upon Christ, the Lord, who will judge me, to witness that I give my vote to him whom I believe ought to be elected according to God's will."
6. "Acceptasne electionem de te canonice factam in Summum Pontificem?": If a cardinal has received two-thirds of the votes, the dean will ask him, "Do you accept the canonical election made on you as Supreme Pontiff?" If the dean is elected himself, his deputy will ask the question instead.
7. "Quo nomine vis vocari?": If the answer is affirmative, the question immediately changes to "By what name do you wish to be called?"
8. "I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!": Once the conclave has ended, the Dean of the College of Cardinals will announce the new pope to the world, declaring, "I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!"
9. "His Eminence, the Most Reverend Lord (First Name), Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church (Last Name), who has taken for himself the name (Pope's Name)": The identity of the new pope is finally revealed with this announcement: "His Eminence, the Most Reverend Lord (First Name), Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church (Last Name), who has taken for himself the name (elected Pope's Name)."

Remember, these terms are just the tip of the iceberg – there are many more phrases and traditions involved in the papal election. As you follow the process, you'll probably pick up even more familiar-sounding Latin expressions. So, go ahead and brush up on your Latin skills – the papal election might just be your opportunity to shine!

1. Understanding the community policy of the Vatican might involve learning Latin terms, as many ancient phrases are still used during ceremonies, such as "Pro eligendo Romano Pontifice."
2. While the employment policy of everyday life may not require Latin, knowing certain phrases can help follow the papal election process more closely, like "Extra omnes," which is used to indicate everyone should leave the Sistine Chapel just before the election.
3. Data-and-cloud-computing technology could help record secret oaths taken by cardinals during the papal election, such as the one starting with the Latin phrase, "Et ego spondeo, voveo ac iuro."
4. The employment policy of the new pope might prioritize certain values, symbolized by the phrase, "Eligo in Summum Pontificem," written on each ballot used by cardinals to choose the new pope, meaning "I elect as Supreme Pontiff."

Read also: