In general practice, the final ballot is a mere formality. As soon as it is perceived that a canonical majority in favour of a candidate is really commanded, the matter is made known to the opposing party, so that, acquiescing in defeat, its members may join in waiting on the future Pope the evening before his actual elevation. The contest therefore ceases habitually on the night before proclamation, and when the Cardinals, on the last morning, proceed to ballot, they do so, as a rule, with the perfect knowledge that they are going through a mere formality. Indeed, the one condition which, by canon law, renders void the election of a Pope who has obtained the suffrages of the Sacred College, brings with it that no election can be forced. It is laid down that no man can be constrained to become Pope at the bidding of the electors; his free acceptance of this dignity is absolutely necessary to render his election legitimate, and therefore it never will happen that all the labour and effort demanded for carrying a
quotes as his authority the register of each day's voting kept by Cardinal Guadagni, and which, forming three volumes, Novaes examined in the library of the Collegio Romano.
