Conclavism

Conclavism is the practice that has existed since the second half of the 20th century which consists in the convening of a pseudo-conclave to elect rival popes (antipopes) to the current pope of Rome. This method is used by some schismatic Catholics, often Sedevacantists, who do not accept the legitimacy of the present papacy. Those who hold the position that a conclave can be convened to elect an antipope to contest or rival the current Bishop of Rome are called conclavists. This claim is usually associated with the claim known as sedevacantism, which asserts that the present holder of the title Bishop of Rome is not pope, which implies that the Holy See is vacant, or in a state of sede vacante. Many Sedevacantists are not Conclavists, however. The term "Conclavism" comes from the word "conclave", the term for a meeting of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a bishop of Rome, when that see is vacant. Conclavism is different from what George Chryssides calls the "mysticalists" phenomenon, i.e. people declaring themselves popes after receiving a personal mystical revelation. This is because in the mysticalists' cases, no human institution is used to appoint a pope; an example of mysticalists is the Apostles of Infinite Love. Mysticalists are therefore not Conclavists according to this definition.