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In the early days of the Church, the clergy and laity of the Church in and around Rome chose the new pope. A major change was introduced in 1059, when Pope Nicholas II decreed in In Nomine Domini that the cardinals were to elect a candidate, who would take office after receiving the assent of the clergy and laity. Over the years the procedure gradually changed until in 1274 a system very similar to the present method was instituted by Pope Gregory X. The system remains basically unchanged since that time except for minor alterations over the years.

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10y ago

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