How did the Third Lateran Council change the rules for electing a pope?

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The Third Lateran Council (1179) introduced significant reforms to the papal election process to address the turbulence and schisms that had previously plagued the selection of a new pope.12

The council implemented two primary changes to the electoral procedure:

  • Universal Cardinal Suffrage: It established that all cardinals—not just the cardinal bishops—were to serve as electors.2
  • Two-Thirds Majority Requirement: It mandated that a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes from the College of Cardinals to be validly elected.12

These measures were intended to ensure a more stable and decisive election process, reducing the likelihood of disputed results and the subsequent emergence of antipopes.12