All Vatican elections

1621 Conclave

elected Gregory XV

8–9 February 1621 · The early modern conclaves · Apostolic Palace, Papal States

It was generally thought that the next Pope would be the candidate chosen by Cardinal Borghese, because he was the most influential person in the Sacred College. He wanted to elect his friend Cardinal Campori, and already before opening the conclave he had obtained twenty four declarations in his favor.

Elected pope

Gregory XV

Alessandro Ludovisi

Succeeded

Duration

2 days

Cardinal electors

locked in under conclave rules

Ballot-by-ballot tallies are destroyed by design — the paper is burned in the stove whose smoke announces the result — so this entry records what the Church documents: the dates, the electors, the number of ballots where known, and the man who walked out onto the balcony.