Origins of the 'Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus papam

(Vatican Radio) The use of the words 'Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus papam ', Latin words meaning: 'we announce with great joy, we have a new Pope'.. goes back to the days of the election of Martin V in 1417.

An election which took place during the Council of Constance at the time of a deadlock which was finally resolved by this very Council. A troubeld moment in the history of the Catholic Church when at least three popes had claimed the See of Peter. They were to quote from Historian Jesuit Professor Norman Tanner's book 'New Short History of the Catholic
Church ' : 'Pope Gregory XII, of the Roman line, persuaded to resign in July. John XXIII also abdicated, under pressure, Benedict XIII of the Avignon line, adamantly refused to resign and was eventually deposed by the council. Thereby the path was cleared for a fresh election and in November 1417 Oddo Colonna was duly elected by the council and took the name Martin V".

And as many people say, it was this sense of relief to have resolved a schism that provoked this expression as if to say 'finally... the pope is one and only"!..