Why did the Third Lateran Council require a two-thirds majority in papal elections?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Cardinals of the Catholic Church, dressed in red, sit at long tables in the Sistine Chapel during the 2005 papal election conclave, surrounded by ornate frescoed walls. — papal conclave Cardinals assembled inside the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican Palace for a conclave to elect a new pope; Vatican City, 2005.

The Third Lateran Council (1179) established the requirement of a two-thirds majority of the College of Cardinals for papal elections to ensure a decisive and legitimate outcome.1

While the council formalized this rule to provide a clear standard for electing the pope, historical context suggests this was a significant step in the development of papal legislative authority, helping to prevent the divisions and schisms that had previously occurred when rival factions elected competing candidates. By requiring a supermajority, the church aimed to secure broader consensus among the electors, thereby strengthening the authority of the successful candidate and reducing the likelihood of contested elections.123