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VATICAN CITY // The Vatican is preparing for an unprecedented papal conclave following the death of Pope Francis, with a record 135 cardinal electors set to gather in Rome to choose the next Vicar of Christ.
Although Pope Francis did not change the rule limiting the number of cardinal electors to 120, he in fact appointed this historic number, the largest in modern Church history, thus creating a logistical problem for the conclave — particularly the capacity of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican residence built to host the cardinal electors.
The Domus Sanctae Marthae, also known as Casa Santa Marta, was constructed in 1996 under Pope John Paul II specifically to provide comfortable accommodations for cardinals during papal conclaves. The five-story building, adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica, contains 106 suites, 22 single rooms, and one apartment, totaling 129 rooms. The apartment was turned by Pope Francis into his personal residence, which after his death had to be sealed, and therefore will not be available during the conclave.
The building was a significant improvement over previous arrangements, where cardinals slept on cots in makeshift spaces throughout the Apostolic Palace, often separated only by hanging sheets and sharing common bathrooms.
However, with 135 cardinal electors now eligible to participate in the conclave, the Domus Sanctae Marthae faces a shortfall, offering seven fewer rooms than the number of electors.
While the residence is designed to function like a hotel for visiting clergy — complete with dining areas, a private chapel, meeting rooms, and common spaces — it is now clear that not every cardinal elector will have a private room during the upcoming conclave.
In ordinary times, the Domus Sanctae Marthae also houses permanent Vatican staff, priests, and bishops assigned to the Holy See, who are required to vacate their rooms during a conclave to make space for the cardinal electors. Despite this, the residence’s total capacity remains below the current number of electors.
The Vatican has not yet announced how it will address the overflow, but possible solutions may include sharing accommodations or utilizing additional facilities within Vatican City.
The Domus Sanctae Marthae has been the chosen residence of Pope Francis from his election in 2013 until his recent death. Eschewing the more formal papal apartments, Pope Francis favored the modest guesthouse for its simplicity and sense of community, living alongside other clergy and Vatican officials.
This year’s conclave is notable not just for its size but also for its diversity. Of the 135 eligible cardinal electors, 108 were appointed by Pope Francis, reflecting his efforts to make the College of Cardinals more representative of the global Catholic community, electing cardinals in places that never had one before.
The conclave should commence no earlier than May 5 and not later than May 15, according to the standing norms established by Pope John Paul II in the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis, issued on Feb. 22, 1996.
The rule establishes that the conclave cannot be held before 15 days from the death of the pope and no later than 20.
Pope Benedict introduced a minor change that allows a conclave to start before the 15 days if all cardinal electors have arrived.
