Papal Rome in Lockdown: Proximities, Temporalities, and Emotions during the Im/mobility of the Conclave

Abstract

THE INVITATION TO WHICH THIS ARTICLE RESPONDS has provided a unique—hopefully, once in a lifetime—opportunity to rethink familiar material in the light of new questions and priorities. The papal conclaves of 1523–1775, which have been a focus of some of my recent research, would seem to offer one of the closest parallels in the lives of early modern Italians to conditions many of us have experienced globally in 2020–21. Then, as now, lockdown prevailed, quite literally for cardinals shut away behind secure doors. Other Romans also were subjected to curfews and assorted restrictions on movement or activity for a variety of reasons, notably to prevent the violent disorder which could rock Rome during conclaves. The hiatus created by a conclave could go on for months (72 days in 1549–50, 113 in 1559, 130 in 1669–70, 151 in 1691, and 180 in 1740 are some of the longer examples). Statues sometimes toppled during that time; released prisoners roamed the streets; plagues even occasionally stalked the land. Sede Vacante—the period