[3] The early defeat of Greek Cardinal Basilios Bessarion—a potential compromise candidate between the Colonna and Orsini factions—is a notable display of the lingering antipathy towards certain characteristics of the Eastern church, such as bearded priests, centuries after the East-West Schism.

[5][6][7][8] The French cardinal is reported to have remarked: Shall we select for Pope, for head of the Latin Church, a Greek, a mere interloper?

[9] How poor, then, must be our Latin Church, if we can find no worthy man in it, but must needs resort to a Greek, and to one, too, who but yesterday attacked the Roman faith!

[10]Bessarion made no attempt to defend himself, claiming he was not interested in being elected; his reputations for reform and austerity also would have been unpopular with many of the Renaissance cardinals.

[11] It is known that the early scrutinies the following Monday were disorganized; for example, the Minorite friar Antonio de Montefalcone received at least one vote.