When you think of a papal election, you probably picture the smoke. Thousands of people packed into St. Peter’s Square, necks craned toward a tiny chimney, waiting for that puff of white. It feels ancient. Eternal. Like it’s been happening that way since the dawn of time.
But if you’re looking for a specific date for when was the first pope elected, you might be disappointed. History isn't always as tidy as a Vatican press release. There wasn't a secret ballot in the year 33 AD. There were no cardinals. Honestly, there wasn't even a "Vatican" as we know it.
The story of the first "election" is a messy, fascinating evolution that looks nothing like the high-stakes drama of a modern conclave.
The Appointment That Wasn't an Election
Strictly speaking, the first pope—Saint Peter—wasn't elected at all. He was appointed.
According to Catholic tradition and the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus basically handed Peter the keys and said, "You’re the rock." No votes were cast. No smoke went up. It was a direct succession of authority. Most historians and theologians, like those at the Vatican's own historical archives, agree that Peter’s "term" started around 30 AD.
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But here’s the kicker: the title "Pope" didn't even exist yet. Peter was simply the leader of the Apostles and, eventually, the Bishop of Rome. In those first few decades, being the "pope" wasn't a glorious job. It was a death sentence. Peter was eventually executed in Rome around 64 AD, traditionally crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die like Jesus.
How the Early "Elections" Actually Worked
Once Peter was gone, things got weird. There was no manual on how to pick a successor.
For the first few centuries, when was the first pope elected is a question with a moving target. The process was basically "community consensus." The local clergy in Rome and the everyday laypeople would huddle up and pick someone they respected.
Think of it more like a local community board meeting than a secret government operation.
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The Era of Acclamation
For the first 200 years, the "election" was often just people shouting. Seriously. It was called acclamation.
- The clergy would propose a name.
- The people would cheer (or boo).
- If everyone agreed, that was your new bishop.
Take the case of Pope Fabian in 236 AD. Legend says he wasn't even a candidate. He was just a guy who walked into the meeting. Then, a dove supposedly landed on his head. The crowd took it as a sign from God and started chanting that he was the one. Boom. Pope.
The Turning Point: The Year 1059
If you want the real, legal answer to when was the first pope elected by a formal system, you have to jump forward a thousand years.
Before 1059, the process was a total free-for-all. Roman emperors would pick their friends. Rich families would buy the office (simony). Sometimes there were three "popes" at once because different factions couldn't agree. It was chaos.
Everything changed with a guy named Pope Nicholas II. He was tired of kings and emperors meddling in Church business. In 1059, he issued a decree called In Nomine Domini.
"The cardinal bishops shall first meet and discuss the candidates... and then the other cardinals shall be called in."
This was the birth of the College of Cardinals. It was the first time the election was officially taken out of the hands of the "mobs" and the "kings" and given to a specific group of high-ranking churchmen.
The "Conclave" Was Born Out of Desperation
Even after the 1059 decree, things weren't perfect. Cardinals would argue for months—or years.
The most famous example happened in 1268. The papacy was vacant for nearly three years because the cardinals couldn't make up their minds. They were hanging out in the town of Viterbo, living in luxury, while the Church sat leaderless.
The locals got fed up. They literally locked the cardinals in a building (cum clave – "with a key"). When that didn't work, they tore the roof off the building to let the rain in. Then they started rationing their food to just bread and water.
Unsurprisingly, the cardinals reached a decision pretty fast after that. This gave us the "conclave" system we use today.
Why This Matters Today
Understanding when was the first pope elected helps us see that the Papacy isn't a static, frozen-in-time office. It’s an institution that had to survive Roman persecution, medieval corruption, and political warfare.
The "first" election wasn't a single event. It was a slow-motion transition from a personal appointment by Jesus to a chaotic community vote, and finally to the ultra-secretive, ritual-heavy process we see today.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs
If you’re digging deeper into this, keep these three things in mind:
- Check the Lists: When looking at "official" lists of popes, remember that the early dates (like for St. Linus or St. Cletus) are often estimates. History was written much later.
- The "First" is Contextual: If someone asks when the first pope was elected, ask them what they mean. The first leader (30 AD)? The first cardinal-elected pope (1059)? Or the first conclave (1271)?
- Visit the Sources: If you're ever in Italy, visit Viterbo, not just the Vatican. You can still see the palace where they ripped the roof off to force an election.
The papacy survived because it adapted. It went from a fisherman in a hideout to a monarch in a palace, and now to a global figure in a glass-walled studio. The election process is just the "code" that kept the system running through the centuries.