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 Catholics, often Sedevacantists, who do not accept the legitimacy of their 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 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. Not all Sedevacantists are Conclavists.

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 this case is the Apostles of Infinite Love.