As the College of Cardinals convenes today in Rome to elect the successor to Pope Francis, it’s worth reflecting on a significant moment in Church history that unfolded in Tuscany nearly 750 years ago. In January 1276, the city of Arezzo hosted the first papal conclave conducted under formalized rules, marking a pivotal development in the Catholic Church’s electoral process.
This historic conclave was necessitated by the death of Pope Gregory X on January 10, 1276, in Arezzo. Gregory X had previously issued the apostolic constitution Ubi periculum during the Second Council of Lyon in 1274, establishing stringent procedures for papal elections. These measures aimed to expedite the selection process and minimize external influences, a response to the protracted three-year conclave in Viterbo that had elected Gregory himself.
In accordance with Ubi periculum, the cardinals gathered in Arezzo’s Church of San Domenico on January 21, 1276. The conclave concluded swiftly, with the unanimous election of French Dominican friar Pierre de Tarentaise, who took the name Pope Innocent V. His election was notable not only for its adherence to the new regulations but also because he became the first Dominican to ascend to the papacy.
The Church of San Domenico, the site of this landmark conclave, remains a significant historical and religious monument in Arezzo. Its role in this transformative event underscores Tuscany’s contribution to shaping the modern papal election process.
As the 2025 conclave unfolds, the legacy of the 1276 Arezzo conclave serves as a reminder of the enduring importance of structured and principled procedures in the governance of the Catholic Church.
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