| Papal conclave July–August 1903 | |
|---|---|
| Dates and location | |
| 31 July – 4 August 1903 Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace, Rome | |
| Key officials | |
| Dean | Luigi Oreglia di Santo Stefano |
| Sub-dean | Serafino Vannutelli |
| Camerlengo | Luigi Oreglia di Santo Stefano |
| Protopriest | José Sebastião Neto |
| Protodeacon | Luigi Macchi |
| Election | |
| Vetoed | Mariano Rampolla |
| Ballots | 7 |
| Elected pope | |
| Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto Name taken: Pius X | |
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The papal conclave held from 31 July to 4 August 1903 saw the election of Cardinal Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto to become pope in succession to Leo XIII, who had died on 20 July after a 25-year-long pontificate. Some 62 cardinals participated in the balloting. Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria asserted the right claimed by certain Catholic rulers to veto a candidate for the papacy, blocking the election of the leading candidate, Cardinal Secretary of State Mariano Rampolla. Sarto was elected on the seventh ballot and took the name Pius X.