The election of a pope by the Conclave is not unlike the nomination of an American president by a convention.

In both cases there are many offices to give away.
William of Malmesbury says that in his day the Romans made a sale of whatever was righteous and sacred for gold.

After his time there was no improvement; the Church degenerated into an instrument for the exploitation of money.

Vast sums were collected in Italy; vast sums were drawn under all manner of pretenses from surrounding and reluctant countries.

Of these the most nefarious was the sale of indulgences for the perpetration of sin.