What Happens if There Is No Election After Many Ballots?

The election of a Pope is a profoundly spiritual act and, at the same time, one regulated by precise Church norms intended to ensure order, freedom, and discernment throughout the process. But what happens when the cardinals gathered in Conclave fail to reach consensus after several rounds of voting?

Though rare, this situation has occurred in the Church’s history and raises an important question: how should the process continue when a deadlock persists? The Tradition of the Church, in its wisdom, foresees this possibility and offers pathways grounded in the good of the Church and in attentive listening to the Holy Spirit.

The Number of Allowed Ballots

Since the promulgation of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis by Saint John Paul II, the papal election process has been clearly regulated:

• Up to four ballots are permitted each day: two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

• After three days of inconclusive voting, the cardinals pause for a day of prayer, reflection, and a brief spiritual exhortation.

• This cycle may repeat several times.

• If after 33 or 34 ballots (approximately 13 days) no one is elected with a two-thirds majority, the cardinals must take a longer pause with more intense prayer and possibly reconsider the proposed names.

Changes in the Rules Throughout History

Historically, when the election became stalled—as in the case of the conclave of Viterbo (1268–1271)—the Church was forced to intervene with new rules. After that election, Pope Gregory X introduced the obligation of isolating the cardinals and gradually reducing their comfort (food, lodging), which was later incorporated into Conclave practice.

In the 20th century, Pope John Paul II prohibited any form of election by simple majority (50% + 1), requiring instead a two-thirds majority of valid votes for a Pope to be validly elected. This norm was upheld by Benedict XVI and reinforced by Francis.

What Happens If the Deadlock Continues?

If no consensus is reached after many ballots, the cardinals must continue to pray and vote, without haste or pressure, until the qualified majority is achieved. There is currently no absolute maximum number of ballots—the process may, in theory, continue for weeks.

The Holy Spirit is not bound by human time. Even amid deadlock, the Church believes that God guides the election, even allowing trials and delays to purify intentions or mature decisions.

“Waiting time is sometimes the very school of the Spirit, where God speaks in silence and in the perseverance of the just.”

The Risk of Deadlock and the Need for Prayer

Lengthy conclaves often reveal internal divisions or deeper crises within the Church. That is why the faithful are called to intensify their prayers—not merely for a quick outcome, but for the right man, the one God has prepared, to be chosen to lead His Church.

Long voting periods are not a sign of failure, but rather a time of testing and discernment, inviting each cardinal to set aside personal preferences and human ideologies, and to listen humbly to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

If no Pope is elected after many ballots, the Church does not fall into despair. She continues to trust in Divine Providence, which can transform moments of impasse into times of purification and fidelity. The perseverance of the cardinals, united with the prayers of the faithful, will eventually open the way for the manifestation of God’s will.

“The Pope will be elected not when men decide it, but when God touches the hearts of his electors.”

(Traditional Church wisdom)