Cardinal Vinko Puljić to Cast Papal Conclave Vote from Vatican Hotel Room Due to Illness

Pope Francis walks next to Bosnian Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo as he arrives for an event in Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, June 6, 2015. Puljic, who is ill, will cast his vote for the new pope from his hotel room.

Cardinal Vinko Puljić, archbishop emeritus of Sarajevo, Bosnia and a voting member of the College of Cardinals, is reportedly too ill to attend the papal conclave proceedings in the Sistine Chapel but will still participate in the election of the new pope. The cardinal will cast his vote from his room at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where cardinals reside during the conclave.

While official confirmation has not yet come from the Holy See Press Office or Cardinal Puljić himself, reports indicate that arrangements have been made in accordance with conclave rules. The voting process allows for cardinals who are unable to be physically present in the Sistine Chapel due to illness to vote from their rooms. In this case, three designated “cardinal nurses” will temporarily leave the chapel to collect Puljić’s ballot at the guesthouse and return it to be counted with the others.

This accommodation, while rare, is permitted under the official rules governing papal elections and ensures that all eligible cardinal electors can participate, regardless of health limitations. However, it is expected to slightly delay the ballot counting process with each round of voting due to the additional coordination required.

Cardinal Puljić, who served as archbishop of Sarajevo from 1991 until his retirement in 2022, remains a respected senior figure in the Catholic Church, especially in the Balkan region. His continued participation in the conclave, even from his private quarters, highlights the inclusivity and flexibility built into the conclave procedures for exceptional circumstances.