Acclamation was formerly one of the methods of papal election.
Contents
The method of electing the Roman Pontiff is contained in the constitutions of Gregory XV Æterni Patris Filius and Decet Romanum Pontificem, Urban VIII's constitution Ad Romani Pontificis Providentiam, and John Paul II's Universi Dominici Gregis, issued in 1996. Prior to the issuance of Universi Dominici Gregis, three methods of election were valid. These were, namely, by scrutiny, by compromise, and by acclamation (or "quasi-inspiration"). This last form of election consisted in all the electors present unanimously proclaiming one of the candidates Supreme Pontiff, without the formality of casting votes. As this was required to be done without previous consultation or negotiation it was looked on as proceeding from the Holy Spirit and hence was also designated "quasi-inspiration".
Recent changes in papal election law
Universi Dominici Gregis specifically disallowed both election by acclamation and by compromise - as a result the secret ballot is the sole valid method of electing a Pope. Originally, Universi Dominici Gregis allowed for a Pope to be elected with a simple majority if the usual requirement of a two-thirds super majority could not be reached after thirty-four ballots. On June 11, 2007 Pope Benedict XVI issued a Motu Proprio which requires a two-thirds majority regardless of the number of ballots it takes to elect a new Pope.
In fiction
In the 1968 film The Shoes of the Fisherman, the Cardinal electors had acclaimed Kiril Cardinal Lakota as Pope after repeated balloting failed to produce the required majority.
In the 1997 novel The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons, it is mentioned that Father Lenar Hoyt has been elected by acclamation nine times after his repeated deaths and resurrections. A tenth election, which occurs at the beginning of the book, is not unanimous due to plotting by his Secretary of State, but a ballot vote still goes in his favor.
In the 2000 book Angels & Demons, Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca is elected by acclamation.