What Does Election By Acclamation Mean?

The election of the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, is an example of an election by acclamation. The method of electing the Roman Pontiff is one of the contents of the AEterni Patris Filius and the Decet Romanum Pontificem (constitutions written by Pope Gregory XV), the Ad Romani Pontificis Providentiam (the constitution written by Pope Urban VIII) and the Universi Dominici Gregis (the constitution written by Pope John Paul II in the year 1996).

There are three methods of election of the Pope. These are election by scrutiny, election by compromise and election by acclamation. There is no voting process involved in the method of election by acclamation. Election by acclamation is also known as quasi-inspiration.

In the process of election of acclamation or election by quasi-inspiration, one of the candidates is unanimously proclaimed as the Supreme Pontiff. It is done without obtaining the prior consultation or negotiation. In the past, this was looked upon as an order that came from the Holy Spirit. Hence it is known as election by quasi-inspiration.

Procedure in vjoting by acclamation