Did you ever imagine that a Catholic monarch could, or even would, say “no” to who becomes pope?
Until the early 20th century, a few claimed exactly that power, known as the jus exclusivae, or the right of exclusion!
This controversial veto allowed kings from Austria, France and Spain to prevent a candidate they disliked from becoming pope. Though never officially recognized by the Church, these vetoes were able to dramatically influence papal elections.
Historically, this ‘right’ first emerged clearly around the mid-17th century. In 1644, Spain first invoked the jus exclusivae to block Cardinal Giulio Cesare Sacchetti, and France attempted a similar move in the same conclave. Over the next few centuries, monarchs used this veto sparingly but effectively, including in 1758 when France prevented the election of Cardinal Cavalchini, and again in 1830 when Austria excluded Cardinal Severoli.
Take the 1903 papal conclave, one of the most notable cases. Cardinal Mariano Rampolla was favored to succeed Pope Leo XIII, gathering a strong majority of 29 votes right off the bat. However, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria dramatically stepped in, invoking the jus exclusivae, effectively blocking Rampolla’s election.
Rampolla gracefully responded by withdrawing himself from papal candidacy, saying that “nothing could be more honorable, nothing more agreeable could have happened,” a powerful rebuke of secular meddling in Church matters.
Eventually, Giuseppe Sarto was elected instead, becoming Pope Pius X.
One of his first actions? He abolished the veto forever through his apostolic constitution Commissum Nobis, condemning any secular influence, such as the jus exclusivae, on papal elections as profoundly inappropriate and spiritually harmful.
This historical episode reminds us that the Church belongs to Christ, not to any earthly power. It also calls each of us to reflect: are we allowing worldly concerns to ‘veto’ God’s Will in our own lives?
Saint Pius X, defender of the Faith, pray for us! 🙏
Photo credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
