Fist fights, ghostly pranks and schism: a brief history of conclaves past

The world of conclaves is shrouded in mystery and suspense as cardinals, cooks, drivers, and medics alike keep secrets close to them during secret ballots to choose a pope. A century ago, Romans even tried to halt a conclave by digging up the body of recently elected Pope Gregory IX, revealing how uncertain these pivotal elections can be. From 1378 to 1978, these conclaves were fraught with conflict, corruption, and even a fist fight over papal authority—and some surprisingly engaging details.