The First Conclave

The custom of keeping the Cardinals enclosed under key (conclave) was adopted in the election of Pope Gregory X in 1271. After Clement IV had died in 1268 the See remained vacant for three years.  In the pontifical city of Viterbo the 18 cardinals present could not come to agree, despite pressure from  super power countries like France. 

One cardinal, Bonaventura of Bagnoregio called the military captain to gather the cardinals together in the Episcopate Palace in Viterbo and to lock it down until they are able to resolve the problem. The guards surrounded the palace, and locked it down.  This did not seem to affect the cardinals inside.  The people of Viterbo, fed-up with the waiting, had climbed on the roof and had taken the roof tiles off so that, rain, cold and heat would push them to make a decision.  In addition, food was rationed down to bread and water which was lowered down through the opened roof. 

Sickness and starvation had finally won them over to agree on a candidate on September 1, 1271.  Pope Gregory X, a skilled canon lawyer, had enacted a constitution (Ubi periculum of 1274) which would from then on regulate the duration and rules for the election of the new pontiff under lock and key, the so called conclave. --- jlf

Episcopate Palace, Viterbo, Italy - site of the first conclave 1271