Abstract
This study builds on previous historical and canon law research and endeavours to demonstrate to what extent the form of papal elections was determined by the ideals and postulates linked to Church reform. It concentrates on a number of core areas.
The first of these is an analysis and evaluation of the 1059 decree, with particular stress on the fulfilment and utilisation of its postulated principles rather on an analysis of its content. The second fundamental area endeavours to profile the basic patterns and continuity of the election process.
It is important to look at the legal aspect of the election process, supporting discourse on individual legislative measures and the overall concept of legal thinking. The research also looks at lay interventions in the election process and the options of so-called designation.
The third area of research focuses on the role of the cardinals in selecting the new pope. The objective here is not to analyse and describe the formation of the College of Cardinals as such, but rather to grasp the changing position of cardinals within the election process.
In this sense, papal elections are testimony to the transformation of the Church and go beyond a narrow focus on the legal or organisational aspects of election procedure.