The word conclave derives from the Latin “with key.” The great historical example that inspired “the conclave” occurred in 1268. When Pope Clement IV died that year, the cardinals met at the papal palace at Viterbo, Italy. Due to political pressures, they could not decide on a pope for three years. Eventually, they were “locked-up,” with “marshals of the conclave” appointed to prevent them from leaving. However, they still could not decide on a pope. The people became so frustrated they tore off the roof, leaving the locked-up cardinals exposed to the weather. The cardinals were only given bread and water to eat. Finally, on September 1, 1271, they chose a successor, Pope Gregory X. Hence forward, the meeting of the cardinals to elect a pope became known as a “conclave.” Because of this prolonged conclave, the Second Council of Lyons (1274) decreed that for future conclaves, the cardinal electors would be “locked-up” to eliminate any outside forces from influencing the election. The first conclave to be held in the Sistine Chapel was in 1492, when Alexander VI was elected pope.