It’s my understanding that they are from all over the world, so wouldn’t there be a language barrier to discussions within the Conclave? Latin is supposed to be the official language of the church, but will they actually hold conversations in latin?
They are very capable of conducting a conversation in latin. Many of these cardinals speak more than one language, and there is no shortage of translators in the Vatican.
Actually, I read in the paper today that translators are not allowed, unless they happen to be cardinals, of course.
Many cardinals would be multilingual. Even ignoring Latin as a lingua franca, given any pair of cardinals you are likely to find they have a language in common, probably English, Italian or Spanish.
All Cardinals will have some mastery of Latin, many will be fluent in Italian, and most of the remainder will be able to understand English, French, or Spanish, as Giles notes.
But what your newspaper did not observe is that those shut into the Conclave are not merely the Cardinals, but that each Cardinal is entitled to take with him two assistants, called “Conclavists,” and a third Conclavist by consent of the College of Cardinals if his health demands it. Odds are that if you are Cardinal Archbishop of, say, Rangoon, and not particularly fluent in Latin or Italian, you will take someone who is, in with you as one of your Conclavists.
Is Latin the lingua franca for the conclave? Or do they communicate in Italian?
This detailed cite on Papal Transition explains that the voting is not really in any language at all. Rather, the cardinal electors write the names of their candidates on slips of paper, which are counted by cardinals selected by lot.
I’m sure that there are many discussions during the conclave conducted in many languages, but there doesn’t seem to be any common language needed for the voting.
I bet they talk to each other like this:
Cardinal A: " I nominate Cardinal Spicolli, of Upper and Lower Salami, for the next Holy Father."
Cardinal B: “Spicolli? Are you out of your mind? Forgive me, brother, but that man’s a menace. I hear he has a mistress AND a wife.”
Cardinal C: “No, no, no. You’re think of Spicollo - he’s the one from one of those dinky places in France. You know, he’s the one with the big nose and the really terrible breath.”
Cardinal A: “Are you saying my nominee has bad breath? Why, I ought to…”
Cardinal E: “Easy, brothers, let’s remember why we’re here.”
Cardinal B: “Oh, butt out, no one’s talking to you - go say a rosary or something.”
Cardinal D: “What time is lunch?”
Of course, it all sounds much more important in Latin. And not that vulgate shit either.
The Vatican has ATMs with screen instructions in Latin. Don’t be too surprised if a lot of discussions actually do go on in that language.