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Papal Bull Universi Dominici Gregis of Boniface VIII
On February 23, 1298, Pope Boniface VIII issued the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, systematically regulating papal elections and re…
Timeline
- 1298Rome · RomeIn Rome, Boniface VIII issued Universi Dominici Gregis, reserving the right to elect the pope exclusively to the College of Cardinals, barring outside interference, and stipulating that elections be held in Rome with secret ballot and a two-thirds majority.
- 1298Rome · RomeThe constitution aimed to prevent a recurrence of irregular situations such as the election of a friar in 1294, consolidating the College of Cardinals' central role in the papacy. Its principles influenced papal election practice for centuries, with traces still visible in 20th-century revisions.
Sources
- Universi Dominici Gregis — Boniface VIII (1298) https://www.vatican.va/content/boniface-viii/en/documents/bulla-universi-dominici-gregis.html
- Boniface VIII https://www.britannica.com/biography/Boniface-VIII