The Papal Conclave Made Simple: Tips, Tools, and Teaching Ideas
The papal conclave is one of the most fascinating and mysterious traditions in the Catholic Church. When students hear that a group of cardinals gathers in secrecy, burns ballots, and waits for white smoke, their imaginations light up! Teaching about the papal conclave is the perfect opportunity to blend Church history, Catholic tradition, and real-world connections—all while helping students appreciate the Holy Spirit’s role in guiding the Church.
Here are five tips to make your lesson about the papal conclave meaningful, memorable, and fun!
1. Start with the Smoke from the Papal Conclave
Begin your lesson with a dramatic question:
“Why are people watching a chimney in Rome?”
Show a short clip of the Sistine Chapel chimney with black or white smoke billowing out. Ask students what they think it means. This immediately grabs their attention and sets the stage for exploring the process of electing a new pope.
2. Use Role-Playing or a Papal Conclave Simulation
Let your students experience a mini papal conclave! Assign roles such as cardinals, reporters, or even Vatican guards. Discuss, cast votes, and announce the results with a big “Habemus Papam!” declaration.
This week at Faith Formation, my class had an absolute blast doing a mock Papal Conclave! We set the scene, debated passionately, and voted (and voted… and voted…). Our goal? Elect a “pope” from among the students—someone who would help lead our class to heaven.
The conversations started off strong—discussing leadership, holiness, and how to guide others toward God. But pretty soon, it turned into girls voting for one girl, boys voting for one boy… and we hit a deadlock. I wasn’t ready to dedicate the full time it needed, so we ended without a pope.
Next week at Faith Formation, we might revisit it—see if any hearts have softened! I’m also thinking that next time, I’ll have them vote for a saint or even a cartoon character instead of a classmate to avoid the Team Girl vs. Team Boy showdown.
There are instructions for a Papal Conclave simulation at the end of this Conclave PowerPoint. We quickly read through the PowerPoint, then jumped into discussion and voting!
3. Introduce Real Papal Stories: “Habemus Papam? Do We Have a Pope?”
Share short stories about real popes elected during past conclaves. For example:
- St. John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in over 400 years.
- Pope Benedict XVI was a brilliant theologian who had worked at the Vatican for years.
- Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope—and the first from the Americas!
Each story invites reflection:
“What kind of leader is the Church looking for today?”
“Who might be the next pope?”
I just finished creating a picture book to help you teach this exact lesson!! “Habemus Papam? Do We Have a Pope?” is a fun and thoughtful way to teach about the conclave. It includes:
- Short stories about popes to introduce Catholic History to your students. They’ll earn about Saint Peter, Pope Sixtus II, Pope Damasus I, Pope Celestine V, Pope Innocent III, Pope Julius II, Pope Gregory XII, Pope Paul VI, Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis!
- After each pope is introduced, we wonder if the next pope will have some of their awesome traits.
- There’s a cute repeating structure: “Habemus Papam? Do we have a pope? No, we don’t have a pope yet.” So, younger kids can get into the story and have fun jumping in to say, “Oh no! We don’t have a pope, yet!”
- There are also paragraphs for older students (and adults) to learn more about each pope.
It’s a great way to spark curiosity and build background knowledge—for all ages!
4. Connect to Catholic Vocabulary & Practice Reading Comprehension
Help students learn important terms like:
- Conclave (meaning “with a key”),
- Cardinal (the pope’s advisors and electors),
- Sistine Chapel,
- White smoke/Black smoke,
- Habemus Papam, and
- Papal election.
As you discuss and teach about the Papal Conclave, this is a unique time to use and build Catholic vocabulary! As you discuss, make sure to use and explain all the new vocab. You could also use reading comprehension packets that use and explain the vocab.
- Papal Symbols Reading Comprehension Packet – Learn about the Triple Crown, Fisherman’s Ring, Keys of the Kingdom, White Vestments, and other important Papal Symbols that represent the pope’s authority and connection to Saint Peter.
- Papal Conclave Reading Comprehension Packet – Explore the fascinating process of electing a new Catholic Pope, including the role of the Cardinals, the secret ballot system, and the meaning behind the white and black smoke.
- The Catholic Papacy Reading Comprehension Packet – Discover the role of the pope as the successor of Saint Peter, his responsibilities as the leader of the worldwide Church, and the ways he continues Christ’s mission today.
- Pope Francis Reading Comprehension — Take some time to remember Pope Francis and reflect on his time in the papacy!
5. Reflect on the Holy Spirit’s Role
Don’t miss the spiritual heart of the papal conclave. Remind students that the Church trusts the Holy Spirit to guide the cardinals as they vote. Lead a class prayer asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in choosing leaders for the Church—and for helping us make good decisions in our own lives.
Sometimes students worry that a new pope might make big changes or completely shift the direction of the Church. It’s important to remind them that the pope is a servant of the Church’s tradition, not someone who rewrites it. While each pope brings his own personality and priorities, the core teachings of the Catholic Church—especially matters of faith and morals—stay the same. You can assure students that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church, and that the papacy is about shepherding, not surprising. This can help students feel more grounded and peaceful as they learn about this important transition.
Remind your students that the papal conclave isn’t like a regular election—there’s no campaigning, debates, or political ads. Cardinals aren’t allowed to promote themselves or others. Instead, they enter the conclave in a spirit of prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide their choice. Help students understand that this is a sacred process rooted in discernment, not popularity. You might invite your class to pause and pray for the Church, just as the cardinals do, and reflect on how we can ask the Holy Spirit to guide our own choices, too.
Final Thoughts
Teaching about the papal conclave can help your students connect with their faith in a new way. Whether you’re introducing Church vocabulary, acting out the election process, or praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, your lessons can bring this sacred tradition to life.
First Communion Gift Idea!
This Catholic Saints & the Eucharist Puzzle Book is a perfect way to help kids connect with the Eucharist in a hands-on way. It’s full of word scrambles, cryptograms, and puzzles that introduce 23 saints who had a deep love for the Eucharist.
You can download the file to print and use in your classroom, or order printed books if you want something ready to gift. Whether it’s for your students, your own kids, or a godchild preparing for their big day, this is an easy, meaningful way to keep the focus on faith.
May Catholic Kids Bulletin
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- Save time and get the entire YEAR of Catholic Kids Bulletins in one easy download! This comprehensive resource includes both Spanish and English versions, covering every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. This page includes detailed descriptions of the bulletins if you want more information.
Weekly Gospel Connection:
- Each bulletin includes a coloring page that reflects the week’s Gospel reading.
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Weekly Activities:
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May Catholic Kids Bulletin
Mayo Boletín para Niños Católicos
April Bulletins include…
- Easter Season
- Saint Joan of Arc
- Saint Joseph the Worker
- Saint Philip Neri: These would be a fun way to help kids remember about Philip Neri–can you figure out why?
- Blessed Imelda Lambertini: I learned about Blessed Imelda from this Glory Stories CD; it’s a great EASY way to learn about the saints!
- Mary, Mother of God
- Ascension will be moved to Sunday in most parishes, but some churches will celebrate Ascension on Thursday and read the 7th Sunday of Easter readings on the Sunday. Choose whichever bulletins work for your areas.
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