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1963 conclave
1963 conclave
1963 conclave
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Papal conclave
June 1963
Dates and location
19–21 June 1963
Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace,
Vatican City
Key officials
DeanEugène Tisserant
Sub-deanClemente Micara
CamerlengoBenedetto Aloisi Masella
ProtopriestManuel Cerejeira
ProtodeaconAlfredo Ottaviani
SecretaryFrancesco Carpino
Election
Electors80 (list)
CandidatesSee papabili
Ballots6
Elected pope
Giovanni Montini
Name taken: Paul VI
← 1958

A conclave was held from 19 to 21 June 1963 to elect a new pope to succeed John XXIII, who had died on 3 June 1963. Of the 82 eligible cardinal electors, all but two attended. On the sixth ballot, the conclave elected Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, the archbishop of Milan. After accepting his election, he took the name Paul VI. His coronation on 30 June 1963 was the latest papal coronation to date.

Papabili

[edit]
Main article: Papabile

John XXIII's death left the future of the Second Vatican Council in the balance, since the election of an anti-Council pope could have severely curbed the Council's role. The leading papabile candidates were Giovanni Montini of Milan, who had not been a cardinal at the previous conclave and was supportive of the reforms proposed at the Council;[1] Giacomo Lercaro of Bologna, who was considered a liberal, close to John XXIII;[1] and Giuseppe Siri of Genoa, papabile in 1958 and critical of these reforms.[citation needed] Gregorio Pietro Agagianian, the former Armenian Catholic Patriarch of Cilicia was also thought to be papabile.[2][3][4] Reportedly, John XXIII had sent oblique signals indicating that he thought Montini would make a fine pope.[5]

Participants

[edit]

The 1963 papal conclave, which met from 19 to 21 June, at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, was the largest yet assembled. There were 82 cardinal electors eligible to participate. The only two who did not were Cardinal József Mindszenty, who refused to leave the U.S. Legation in Budapest where he had lived since 1956 unless the Hungarian government met his demands for religious freedom in Hungary,[6] and Cardinal Carlos María de la Torre of Quito, Ecuador, who was 89 years old and could not make the journey because he had suffered a stroke the previous December and was bedridden with thrombosis.[6][7] Of the eighty cardinals who did participate, eight had been elevated by Pope Pius XI, twenty-seven by Pius XII, and the other 45 by John XXIII. Each cardinal elector was allowed one aide. They came from 29 countries, compared to 51 from 21 countries in the conclave of 1958 and 59 from 16 countries in 1939. The Italians were outnumbered 51 to 29.[8]

Balloting

[edit]
Pope Paul VI appearing on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica following his election on 21 June 1963

Under the latest rules, election required the votes of two-thirds of those voting, in this case 54.[8] No ballots were taken on the first day, then two each morning and two each afternoon.[9] Because there had been confusion at the last conclave in 1958 over the color of the smoke used to indicate whether a pope had been elected, the smoke would be supplemented with electric lights.[9]

The results of the first four ballots were signaled with black smoke on 20 June at 11:54 am and 5:47 pm. Each time, the smoke appeared white at first.[10]

Some reform-minded cardinals initially voted for Leo Joseph Suenens of Mechelen-Brussels and Franz König of Vienna to make the point that the pope does not have to be Italian.[11] Other reports said that conservative cardinals attempted to block Montini's election in the early balloting. Due to the apparent deadlock, Cardinal Montini proposed to withdraw himself from being considered but was silenced by Giovanni Urbani the Patriarch of Venice.[12] Another cardinal, Gustavo Testa, an old friend of John XXIII, lost his temper in the Chapel and demanded that the intransigents stop impeding Montini's path.[5]

By the fourth ballot on 20 June, according to Time magazine, Montini needed only four more votes to obtain the required number of votes.[citation needed] He was elected on the fifth ballot on the morning of 21 June.[11] When asked by Eugène Tisserant whether he accepted his election, Montini replied, "Accepto, in nomine Domini" ("I accept, in the name of the Lord") and chose the name Paul VI.

At 11:22 am, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signifying the election of a new pope. Alfredo Ottaviani, in his capacity as the senior cardinal deacon, announced Montini's election in Latin. Before Ottaviani had even finished saying Montini's name, the crowd beneath the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica erupted into applause.

Pope Paul VI appeared on the balcony shortly afterwards to give his first blessing. On this occasion, Paul VI chose not to give the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing but instead imparted the shorter episcopal blessing as his first apostolic blessing.

See also

[edit]
Cardinal electors by region
Region Number
Italy 29
Rest of Europe 26
North America 7
South America 11
Asia 5
Oceania 1
Africa 1
Total 80

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

1963 conclave

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from Grokipedia
The 1963 papal conclave was the assembly of the College of Cardinals to elect a new pope following the death of Pope John XXIII from stomach cancer on 3 June 1963. Held in the Sistine Chapel from 19 to 21 June 1963 over three days, it involved 80 of the 82 eligible cardinal electors and required six ballots to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority. The conclave resulted in the election of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, the 65-year-old Archbishop of Milan, who accepted and took the regnal name Paul VI. This conclave took place during a period of transition in the Catholic Church, shortly after John XXIII had opened the Second Vatican Council in 1962, which was then in recess, and amid expectations that the new pope would address the council's direction toward liturgical and ecclesiastical reforms.

Historical Context

Death of Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXIII suffered from a terminal illness beginning in late 1962, when physicians diagnosed him with advanced stomach cancer during a routine examination in October, though he was not informed of the severity to preserve his spirits amid ongoing Vatican duties. Despite the progression of the disease, which caused significant abdominal pain and weight loss, he maintained a public schedule, including addresses related to the Second Vatican Council, until early 1963 when his condition deteriorated markedly. By May 1963, John XXIII's health had declined to the point of confinement to bed in the Apostolic Palace, where he received visits from cardinals and medical care from Vatican physicians. He endured peritonitis complications from the cancer, which perforated his stomach lining, but continued spiritual preparations, dictating notes for his encyclical Pacem in Terris and receiving the last rites on 31 May. John XXIII died peacefully on 3 June 1963 at 7:49 p.m. local time, aged 81 years and 7 months, in his private apartment overlooking St. Peter's Square. The official announcement of his death was made by Cardinal Eugène Tisserant, Dean of the College of Cardinals, prompting the traditional nine days of mourning known as the novendiales and setting the stage for the immediate convocation of the papal conclave to elect his successor. His body was embalmed shortly after to address decomposition accelerated by the malignancy, a procedure conducted under secrecy in the Vatican embalming room.

Vatican II and Succession Pressures

Pope John XXIII's death on June 3, 1963, left the Second Vatican Council—convoked by him on January 25, 1959, and opened on October 11, 1962—in a precarious state, as its first session had ended on December 8, 1962, without completing its agenda of church renewal and adaptation to modernity. The council's intersession period amplified succession pressures, compelling the College of Cardinals to select a pope who would preside over the planned second session starting September 29, 1963, and decide the fate of reforms centered on liturgy, ecumenism, and the church's role in the world. Failure to continue risked unraveling John XXIII's vision of aggiornamento (updating), while unchecked progression could alienate traditionalists. Deep divisions emerged among the 80 participating cardinal electors, pitting conservatives against progressives over the council's direction. Conservative figures, such as Cardinal Giuseppe Siri of Genoa, advocated halting or minimizing the council to preserve doctrinal orthodoxy and curial authority, viewing its debates as potentially destabilizing. In contrast, progressives like Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro of Bologna pushed for bolder liturgical and collegial reforms, seeing the council as essential for engaging contemporary society. These factions reflected broader tensions from the first session, where votes on schemas often split along lines of curial traditionalism versus episcopal calls for openness, with conservatives holding sway in preparatory commissions but facing majority resistance in plenary debates. The conclave's June 19–21 proceedings underscored these pressures, with initial ballots favoring Lercaro but shifting as his perceived liberalism deterred moderates; he subsequently endorsed Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini of Milan, a compromise candidate who pledged cautious continuation of the council without radical overhauls. Montini's election as Paul VI on the sixth ballot ensured the council's resumption, as he reconvened it on schedule and guided it to closure in 1965, though external influences—such as reported Spanish opposition from Francisco Franco's regime, relayed via Cardinal Arcadio Larraona—highlighted geopolitical stakes in blocking perceived reformers. This outcome balanced reformist momentum with stability, averting a conservative rollback that might have confined Vatican II to historical footnote.

Preparation and Convocation

Summoning of Cardinals

Following the death of Pope John XXIII on 3 June 1963, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Eugène Tisserant, summoned the 82 eligible cardinal electors to Rome in accordance with canon law, which required their assembly for general congregations leading to the conclave. Cardinals were obliged by sacred promise to attend unless legitimately impeded, with notifications issued promptly to facilitate travel from dioceses worldwide. On 5 June, 32 cardinals—comprising 21 Italians, three Frenchmen, two Britons, two Spaniards, and one each from Argentina, Armenia, and Portugal—convened in Vatican City under Tisserant's presidency, acting as the interim governing body of the Church on behalf of the full College. This group, representing a quorum of senior members already in or near Rome, determined that the conclave would open on 19 June to comply with canon law's stipulation of initiating proceedings 15 to 18 days after the Pope's death, with secret balloting to commence on 20 June. In the interim period, summoned cardinals progressively arrived, exemplified by U.S. Cardinal Francis Spellman departing New York on 8 June and others such as Joseph Ritter of St. Louis, Paul-Émile Léger of Montreal, and Julius Döpfner of Munich reaching Rome shortly thereafter. Daily general congregations ensued, during which arriving electors swore oaths to uphold procedural secrecy and ecclesiastical norms, ensuring the College's readiness for seclusion in the Sistine Chapel. This summoning process underscored the Church's emphasis on expeditious yet deliberate transition, minimizing the sede vacante duration while accommodating global logistics.

Procedural Rules and Secrecy Measures

The procedural rules governing the 1963 papal conclave derived from Pope Pius XII's apostolic constitution Vacantis Apostolicae Sedis of December 8, 1945, which mandated that the election occur exclusively within the Sistine Chapel under the supervision of the College of Cardinals, with auxiliary staff limited to designated officials such as scrutineers, infirmarii, and revisers. The constitution required a candidate to secure a two-thirds majority plus one additional vote of the participating electors for valid election; with 80 cardinals present, this threshold was 54 votes. Balloting, termed scrutinies, commenced with one vote on the conclave's opening afternoon, followed by two daily scrutinies (morning and afternoon) until resolution, with each cardinal inscribing a name on a folded ballot after a prescribed prayer and depositing it into a chalice on the altar. Secrecy measures emphasized absolute confidentiality to insulate deliberations from external influence, beginning with oaths sworn by all cardinals and non-elector personnel—administered by the senior cardinal deacon—pledging fidelity to the rules and perpetual silence on proceedings under penalty of automatic excommunication latae sententiae. Cardinals underwent physical sequestration in Vatican apartments, barred from correspondence, media, or any outbound communication; entry to the conclave area was restricted, with searches for contraband and oversight by sworn officials to enforce isolation, allowing exit only for verified medical emergencies without resuming voting rights upon return. Used ballots were incinerated post-scrutiny in a stove visible from the chimney, traditionally with damp straw for black smoke (no election) or dry materials for white (election), though the 1963 signals proved unclear due to inconsistent chemical additives, causing some external confusion. Enforcement extended to prohibiting pre-conclave pacts or external pressures, with the constitution nullifying any post-vacancy alterations to its norms and vesting no extraordinary authority in the College during interregnum beyond electoral duties. These protocols, rooted in centuries of refinement to curb simony and intrigue, ensured proceedings remained insulated, though historical accounts note occasional post-facto revelations from diaries, underscoring the rules' intent over absolute enforcement.

Participants

Eligible Cardinal Electors

At the time of Pope John XXIII's death on June 3, 1963, the College of Cardinals consisted of 82 living members, all of whom were eligible to participate as electors in the subsequent conclave, as no upper age limit existed under canon law until its introduction by Paul VI in 1970. These electors had been elevated by Popes Pius XI (r. 1922–1939), Pius XII (r. 1939–1958), and John XXIII (r. 1958–1963), with John XXIII's consistories of 1959 and 1962 markedly increasing the College's size from 53 in 1958 to 82 by 1963 to better represent the global Church. The eligible electors reflected the Church's European-centric composition, though with growing non-European representation. Italy held the largest contingent at 29 cardinals, followed by France with 7, Spain with 6, and the United States with 5; other nations contributed smaller numbers, including Brazil and Germany with 3 each. The two non-participating electors were Cardinal József Mindszenty of Hungary, in exile in the U.S. legation in Budapest since 1956 due to communist persecution, and Cardinal Carlos María de la Torre of Ecuador, absent owing to advanced age (89) and health issues. The average age among participants was approximately 67 years, underscoring a body dominated by elderly European clergy.
Country/RegionNumber of Eligible Electors (Including Absentees Where Applicable)
Italy29
France7
Spain6
United States5
Brazil3
Germany3
Others (22 countries/regions)29 (including Hungary and Ecuador for absentees)
This distribution highlighted Italy's enduring influence in papal elections, with over one-third of electors Italian, though John XXIII's appointments had begun diversifying the College toward Latin America, North America, and Asia.

Absences and Non-Voters

Of the 82 cardinal electors eligible for the 1963 conclave, 80 participated in the voting. The two absentees were József Mindszenty, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, who was unable to leave Hungary due to restrictions imposed by the communist regime—he had been living in asylum at the U.S. legation in Budapest since 1956 and declined to depart without assurances regarding his return or the regime's stance. The other was Carlos María Javier de la Torre, Archbishop of Quito, Ecuador, who was prevented from attending by health issues. No cardinals present in Rome abstained from voting during the six ballots held from June 19 to 21, 1963, as all participants adhered to the procedural obligation to cast ballots unless physically incapacitated, with no such cases reported. Mindszenty's absence highlighted ongoing Cold War tensions affecting Church leadership, as his outspoken anti-communism had led to his 1949 imprisonment and subsequent exile within Hungary, rendering travel to the conclave infeasible without regime permission that was not granted. De la Torre, elevated to the cardinalate in 1953 and aged 89 in 1963, had participated in the 1958 conclave, and his health-related withdrawal did not alter the conclave's quorum, which required a two-thirds majority of attendees.

Papabili and Factions

Profiles of Leading Candidates

Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, emerged as the primary papabile, favored for his moderation and alignment with the reforms initiated by Pope John XXIII. Born on September 26, 1897, in Concesio near Brescia, Italy, Montini was ordained a priest on May 19, 1920, after studying philosophy, civil and canon law, and theology. He entered Vatican diplomatic service in 1924, serving under Secretaries of State Pietro Gasparri and Eugenio Pacelli (later Pius XII), where he handled Nunciature affairs and engaged in anti-Nazi activities during World War II. Appointed Archbishop of Milan on November 1, 1954, Montini prioritized pastoral outreach to industrial workers, establishing organizations to reintegrate lapsed Catholics and address social injustices amid Italy's post-war urbanization; he famously styled himself the "archbishop of the workers." Elevated to the College of Cardinals by John XXIII on December 15, 1958, Montini supported the Second Vatican Council's emphasis on ecclesial renewal while maintaining doctrinal fidelity, earning broad support from both reformers and moderates in the conclave. Giuseppe Siri, Archbishop of Genoa, represented the conservative bloc, appealing to cardinals concerned about preserving pre-conciliar traditions amid Vatican II's upheavals. Born on May 20, 1906, in Lu in Liguria, Italy, Siri was ordained in 1928 and appointed Genoa's archbishop in 1946 at age 40, where he staunchly opposed communism, earning acclaim for his anti-Marxist pastoral letters and resistance to leftist influences in Italian society. A vocal defender of Thomistic theology and liturgical integrity, Siri criticized perceived ambiguities in the Council's preparations and garnered votes from curial traditionalists who viewed him as a bulwark against progressive excesses; he had narrowly competed in the 1958 conclave, receiving significant support before John XXIII's election. At 57 during the 1963 gathering, Siri's youth, intellectual rigor, and Italian heritage positioned him as a viable alternative to Montini, though his uncompromising stance limited crossover appeal. Alfredo Ottaviani, a senior curial figure as Secretary of the Holy Office, embodied ultraconservative resistance to reform but was hampered by his advanced age of 72. Born on October 29, 1890, in Rome, Ottaviani rose through the Roman Curia, becoming a key doctrinal enforcer under Pius XII, authoring encyclicals on holy orders and combating perceived heresies like Lamentabili sane exitu influences. As a cardinal since 1953, he led opposition to liberalizing trends at Vatican II, insisting on Latin liturgy and centralized authority; in the conclave, he drew initial votes from hardline traditionalists seeking to halt conciliar momentum. However, his long curial tenure and lack of pastoral experience outside Rome diminished his prospects as a universal shepherd. Giacomo Lercaro, Archbishop of Bologna, attracted progressive votes as an ally of John XXIII's social vision. Born on October 28, 1891, in Bologna, Lercaro was ordained in 1915 and appointed archbishop there in 1952, known for his advocacy of worker priests, ecumenism, and liturgical experimentation—efforts that aligned with Pacem in terris emphases on human dignity and dialogue. Created cardinal in 1953, he co-moderated Vatican II sessions, pushing for vernacular Mass and collegiality; at 71, his reformist zeal earned support from non-Italian and younger electors wary of Italian dominance, though his regional focus and occasional clashes with orthodoxy tempered broader backing. Léon-Joseph Suenens, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, symbolized internationalist progressivism, though his non-Italian status reduced his electability. Born on July 16, 1904, in Ixelles, Belgium, Suenens was ordained in 1927, becoming archbishop in 1945 and cardinal in 1962; a Council moderator, he championed lay involvement, marital spirituality, and Church adaptation to modernity via Gaudium et spes contributions. Influential among European reformers, Suenens received exploratory votes for his theological depth and ecumenical outreach, but conclave dynamics favored an Italian successor to John XXIII.

Ideological Divisions Among Cardinals

The 1963 papal conclave occurred amid heightened tensions over the Second Vatican Council, convened by Pope John XXIII in 1962 to pursue liturgical, ecumenical, and doctrinal reforms, which had exposed deep rifts among the cardinals on the pace and scope of change. Progressive-leaning cardinals, often aligned with the council's initial momentum, advocated for accelerating reforms to modernize the Church's engagement with the contemporary world, viewing the council as an opportunity for substantive renewal in areas like religious liberty and interfaith dialogue. In contrast, conservative cardinals, particularly those from the Roman Curia, prioritized doctrinal continuity and feared that unchecked reforms could erode traditional teachings and ecclesiastical authority, with some expressing desires to curtail or even dissolve the council sessions. These divisions were not strictly numerical—progressives held significant influence from the council's debates—but reflected a broader curial versus pastoral episcopal split, exacerbated by John XXIII's unexpected death on June 3, 1963, leaving the council's future unresolved. Leading the conservative faction was Cardinal Giuseppe Siri of Genoa, who garnered early support for his staunch defense of orthodoxy and opposition to liberal interpretations of the council's emerging schemas, positioning him as a potential pope to restore pre-conciliar stability. Cardinals like Alfredo Ottaviani, head of the Holy Office and a vocal critic of modernist tendencies, reinforced this bloc's emphasis on preserving Latin liturgy and hierarchical discipline against perceived relativism. On the progressive side, figures such as Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro of Bologna initially drew votes for his advocacy of social justice and liturgical experimentation, though his perceived extremism alienated moderates. Cardinals like Léon-Joseph Suenens of Belgium and Augustin Bea, S.J., further embodied the reformist push, favoring collegiality and ecumenism as essential to the Church's mission. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini of Milan, absent from the 1958 conclave due to his non-cardinal status, emerged as a pivotal moderate who endorsed the council's continuation but urged measured implementation to avoid schism or doctrinal dilution. These ideological lines manifested in the balloting, with Siri receiving strong initial support from conservatives while progressives' votes were more divided, including to Lercaro, before shifting toward Montini as a compromise to ensure the council's survival without radical upheaval. Lercaro's supporters, declining after scrutiny of his liberal views, transferred allegiance to Montini on later ballots, enabling his election on June 21, 1963, after six scrutinies among 80 electors. This outcome underscored the conclave's causal dynamic: conservatives blocked extremes on either side, prioritizing institutional cohesion over ideological purity, though it foreshadowed ongoing post-conciliar debates. External influences, such as reported interventions from figures like Francisco Franco against Montini, highlighted geopolitical undercurrents to the conservative resistance but failed to sway the majority.

Balloting Process

Initial Ballots and Shifts

The balloting in the 1963 conclave began on the morning of June 20, following the cardinals' sequestration in the Sistine Chapel on June 19, with 80 electors participating out of 82 eligible under the apostolic constitution Vacantis Apostolicae Sedis. A supermajority of two-thirds plus one—54 votes—was required for election, reflecting the procedural emphasis on broad consensus amid ideological tensions over the ongoing Second Vatican Council. No vote occurred on the first day, adhering to tradition for initial deliberations, after which up to four ballots were held daily: two in the morning and two in the afternoon, with scrutiny and revision processes ensuring secrecy and verification. Early ballots revealed a fragmented electorate, divided primarily along lines of continuity versus reversal of John XXIII's reforms. Conservative factions initially rallied behind Cardinal Giuseppe Siri of Genoa, who favored curtailing or abandoning the council to preserve doctrinal orthodoxy, while progressive elements supported Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro of Bologna, advocating accelerated liberalization and deeper ecclesiastical restructuring. These divisions prevented any candidate from approaching the threshold, as Siri alienated moderates wary of outright reactionism and Lercaro alarmed centrists with perceptions of excessive radicalism. Exact tallies remain undisclosed due to the conclave's oath of secrecy, but post-conclave analyses indicate neither secured a commanding lead, underscoring the absence of a frontrunner entering the process. By the second ballot, Lercaro's prospects dimmed as his support eroded among those seeking balanced reform, prompting a pivotal realignment. Cardinals disillusioned with polar extremes began coalescing around Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, whose reputation for diplomatic pragmatism—honed in prior Vatican roles—and explicit commitment to completing the council in a measured fashion positioned him as a viable bridge between factions. Montini's gradual ascent reflected informal caucusing outside formal voting, including discussions emphasizing his ability to sustain Vatican II's momentum without alienating traditionalists, though external pressures complicated dynamics; Spanish Cardinal Arcadio Larraona, influenced by Francisco Franco, urged opposition to Montini over concerns of insufficient authoritarian alignment. This consolidation accelerated in subsequent rounds, with Siri and Lercaro's backers defecting to Montini as exhaustion with deadlock grew and the council's unfinished agenda loomed large. The shifts highlighted causal factors beyond personal appeal: the cardinals' prioritization of institutional stability amid global scrutiny of the Church's modernization, coupled with Montini's eligibility after his recent elevation to cardinal by John XXIII, which had resolved prior technical barriers. By the fourth ballot, momentum had decisively favored Montini, setting the stage for his triumph on the sixth, though precise mechanisms of persuasion—likely whispered endorsements during pauses—remain inferred from historical reconstructions rather than verified records.

Election on the Sixth Ballot

On the morning of 21 June 1963, during the sixth and final ballot of the conclave, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, received the requisite two-thirds supermajority of at least 54 votes from the 80 participating cardinal electors, securing his election as pope. Contemporary reports, drawing from leaks among the electors, indicated that Montini had approached the threshold on the preceding ballot with approximately 50 votes but gained decisive support from moderate and progressive factions on the sixth, securing the required two-thirds supermajority. This outcome ended the conclave after three days, with the scrutineers—three cardinals selected by lot—verifying the ballots in the presence of all electors before the dean of the College of Cardinals, Eugène Tisserant, formally asked Montini if he accepted the election. Montini assented, selecting the papal name Paul VI in honor of his predecessors and signaling intent to advance the Second Vatican Council. The ballots were then burned with chemicals producing white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney at around 11:45 a.m., alerting the gathered crowds in St. Peter's Square to the successful election. No official vote counts were released due to the conclave's oath of secrecy, but the rapid convergence on Montini underscored the electors' preference for an experienced Italian leader amid geopolitical tensions and the ongoing ecumenical council.

Outcome and Immediate Aftermath

Acceptance by Giovanni Battista Montini

Upon achieving the requisite two-thirds majority on the sixth ballot in the Sistine Chapel on the afternoon of June 21, 1963, Cardinal Dean Eugène Tisserant approached Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, to confirm his acceptance of the canonical election as Supreme Pontiff. Montini, aged 65 and known for his diplomatic experience under previous popes, responded with the traditional Latin affirmation: Accepto, in nomine Domini ("I accept, in the name of the Lord"), thereby formally assuming the papal office without recorded hesitation or refusal. Following his acceptance, Montini immediately selected the regnal name Paulus VI (Paul VI), invoking the legacy of the Apostle Paul to emphasize themes of evangelization and Church unity amid the ongoing Second Vatican Council initiated by his predecessor, John XXIII. This choice reflected Montini's intention to continue the council's reforms while maintaining doctrinal continuity, as evidenced by his subsequent addresses. The acceptance marked the conclusion of the conclave, which had convened on June 19 following John XXIII's death on June 3, and proceeded directly to the cardinals' homage to the new pope.

Announcement and Inauguration as Paul VI

Following his election on the sixth ballot during the afternoon of 21 June 1963, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, accepted the decision of the conclave and chose the regnal name Paul VI, signaling continuity with prior pontiffs bearing that name. The protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, Alfredo Ottaviani, then emerged onto the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica to proclaim the traditional Habemus Papam formula in Latin, announcing Montini as the newly elected Bishop of Rome who had assumed the name Paul VI. Pope Paul VI subsequently appeared before the assembled crowd in Saint Peter's Square, where he delivered the apostolic blessing urbi et orbi (to the city and the world), marking his first public act as pontiff and the immediate commencement of his reign amid widespread media coverage of the white smoke signaling the conclave's resolution. This appearance followed the standard post-election protocol, with Paul VI dressed in temporary papal vestments prepared in advance. The formal inauguration of his pontificate culminated in a public coronation ceremony on 30 June 1963 at 6:00 p.m. in Saint Peter's Square, the latest such event in papal history and the first held outdoors since the Middle Ages. Cardinal Ottaviani placed the papal tiara—the Triple Crown—upon Paul VI's head during the rite, which included the singing of the Te Deum and homage from the cardinals, emphasizing the symbolic transfer of temporal and spiritual authority in the presence of tens of thousands of faithful. This ceremony, conducted under clear skies, drew international attention and underscored Paul VI's commitment to visible tradition amid ongoing preparations for the Second Vatican Council.

Long-Term Implications and Criticisms

Continuity with Vatican II Reforms

Giovanni Battista Montini, elected as Paul VI on June 21, 1963, represented a deliberate choice by the conclave to maintain momentum for the Second Vatican Council, which Pope John XXIII had initiated on October 11, 1962, and which had adjourned after its first session amid expectations of continuation. Montini's prior support for the council's preparatory work and his reputation as a moderate reformer positioned him as a bridge between John XXIII's opening and the need for structured implementation, distinguishing him from more conservative papabile like Alfredo Ottaviani, who favored curtailing the assembly's progressive tendencies. Paul VI reconvened the council on September 29, 1963, guiding its second session from October 29 to December 4, 1963, and overseeing the subsequent third (1964) and fourth (1965) sessions, which produced 16 major documents including constitutions on liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium), the Church (Lumen Gentium), divine revelation (Dei Verbum), and the modern world (Gaudium et Spes). These efforts ensured the council's completion without interruption, with Paul VI promulgating the final documents on December 8, 1965, thereby embedding reforms such as vernacular liturgy, episcopal collegiality, and ecumenical outreach into Church governance. Post-council, Paul VI pursued implementation through curial reforms and synods, such as the 1967 Synod of Bishops, which institutionalized consultative bodies envisioned by Lumen Gentium, while emphasizing fidelity to the council's texts amid emerging liturgical experiments that sometimes deviated from approved norms. His 1969 apostolic constitution Missale Romanum authorized the Novus Ordo Missae, aligning with Sacrosanctum Concilium's call for active participation but retaining Latin options and traditional elements to preserve doctrinal continuity. This approach reflected a commitment to aggiornamento—updating the Church's presentation—without rupturing with pre-conciliar tradition, though it drew criticism from traditionalists for perceived overemphasis on adaptation.

Traditionalist Critiques of the Election Outcome

Traditionalist Catholics, including figures associated with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), critiqued the 1963 conclave's outcome as emblematic of the progressive shift in Church leadership, with the election of Giovanni Battista Montini (Pope Paul VI) on June 21 ensuring the continuation and intensification of Second Vatican Council reforms they deemed incompatible with doctrinal tradition. Montini's pre-conclave reputation as Archbishop of Milan, where he had engaged with modern social issues and supported conciliar openness, was seen by conservatives as signaling a departure from the anti-modernist stance of prior pontiffs like Pius XII. Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, a key traditionalist voice, later characterized Paul VI as a "liberal pope" based on his advocacy for religious liberty—a position Lefebvre argued contradicted condemnations by Popes Gregory XVI and Pius IX—and viewed the election as consolidating liberal influence among the 80 cardinal electors, sidelining more orthodox candidates like Alfredo Ottaviani, whose interventions at Vatican II defended traditional teachings on faith and morals. This outcome, traditionalists contended, reflected ballot shifts after initial conservative momentum, with Montini gaining support from moderate and progressive blocs amid the council's ongoing sessions, ultimately securing the required two-thirds majority on the sixth ballot. Critics highlighted Paul VI's perceived indecisiveness, likening it to Hamlet's paralysis, as evident in his handling of post-election challenges like liturgical experimentation and synodal debates on celibacy and contraception, which they argued undermined ecclesiastical authority and fueled a "diabolical disorientation" in the Church. While accepting the election's canonical validity, traditionalists maintained that selecting Montini over staunch defenders of tradition facilitated errors in areas like collegiality and ecumenism, prioritizing adaptation over immutable doctrine. A fringe subset of sedevacantists promotes unsubstantiated claims of procedural irregularities, such as the "Siri thesis," alleging Cardinal Giuseppe Siri achieved an early majority but was coerced to withdraw under external threats, paving the way for Montini; these assertions, drawn from anecdotal reports of smoke signals and insider whispers, lack empirical verification and are rejected by broader Catholic scholarship as speculative.

References

  1. https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20000903_john-xxiii_en.html
  2. https://gcatholic.org/events/conclave/1963
  3. https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/popes-deathbed
  4. https://www.fisheaters.com/johnxxiiiembalmed.html
  5. https://cnsblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/our-story-reporting-the-death-of-pope-john-xxiii/
  6. https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1066&context=horizons
  7. https://www.vatican.va/jubilee_2000/magazine/documents/ju_mag_01051997_p-21_en.html
  8. https://www.papalencyclicals.net/paul06/p6elect.htm
  9. https://www.nytimes.com/1963/06/06/archives/conclave-on-pope-to-start-june-19-cardinals-will-begin-voting-next.html
  10. http://betrayedcatholics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/VASannot.pdf
  11. https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/white-smoke-valid-pope
  12. https://cardinals.fiu.edu/conclave-xx.htm
  13. https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/event/c1963.html
  14. http://www.fides.org/en/news/76321-VATICAN_Conclave_More_and_more_Cardinals_from_the_countries_entrusted_to_the_Dicastery_for_Evangelization_gather_in_the_Sistine_Chapel
  15. https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdltc.html
  16. http://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/biografia/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_20190722_biografia.html
  17. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-paul-vi/
  18. https://insidethevatican.com/magazine/american-cardinals-and-the-papacy-historical-vignettes/
  19. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1963/07/20/letter-from-vatican-city
  20. https://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/update/conclave/how_to.htm
  21. https://www.the-american-catholic.com/2025/05/05/james-cardinal-mcintyre-and-the-conclave-of-1963/
  22. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/how-the-conclaves-fared-in-the-past-century/
  23. https://www.nytimes.com/1963/06/22/archives/cardinal-montini-elected-pope-liberal-65-will-reign-as-paul-vi.html
  24. https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-05-07/secret-history-of-the-conclaves-the-internal-battles-of-the-last-10-papal-elections.html
  25. https://time.com/archive/6812693/the-papacy-the-path-to-follow/
  26. https://ewtnvatican.com/articles/st-paul-vi-a-special-exhibition-for-the-60th-anniversary-of-his-election-1835
  27. https://historiathek.com/en/shop/election-of-pope-paul-vi-in-1963/
  28. https://www.itsabouttv.com/2013/03/habemus-papam-on-tv.html
  29. https://www.nationalshrine.org/blog/a-moment-in-history-the-papal-tiara-at-the-basilica/
  30. https://www.papalartifacts.com/31918-2/
  31. https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/ch157-always-reforming
  32. https://www.scross.co.za/2018/10/pope-paul-vi-changed-the-church/
  33. https://www.papalartifacts.com/september-29-1963-pope-paul-vi-reconvenes-vatican-ii-with-commentary-by-father-richard-kunst-2/
  34. https://catholicoutlook.org/pope-paul-vi-was-the-great-pope-of-the-20th-century/
  35. https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/pope-paul-vis-greatness-lies-his-church-leadership-after-vatican-ii
  36. https://slmedia.org/blog/saint-paul-vi-pope-of-dialogue-elected-60-years-ago
  37. https://onepeterfive.com/paul-vi-refounder-catholicism/
  38. https://sspx.org/en/news/50-years-ago-pope-paul-vis-election-4675
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