Conclave

A private meeting or gathering, often of a group or council, held in secret or closed session to discuss, debate, or make important decisions. It is frequently used to describe the assembly of cardinals to elect a new Pope, but can apply to any similarly exclusive and secluded assembly. The atmosphere is usually one of intense discussion, often with confidentiality being paramount to the proceedings. These discussions usually involve power, strategy, and the shaping of outcomes.

Conclave meaning with examples

• The cardinals entered the Vatican for the Conclave, shutting themselves away from the outside world to begin the solemn task of selecting the next leader of the Catholic Church. Intense deliberation and prayer marked the closed-door discussions which involved difficult choices.
• Tech giants held a secretive Conclave at a remote location, debating the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and formulating a joint strategy. The high-level talks were designed to protect the company from the fallout of a future of potentially devastating technology.
• The political party convened a Conclave of its strategists to discuss the upcoming election, strategizing how to best counter their opponent's latest moves and attempting to decide their final campaign strategy.
• After the unexpected death of their CEO, the board of directors called an emergency Conclave, to urgently select an interim leader and navigate the company through a time of uncertainty and protect the company's reputation.
• Fearing public scrutiny, the heads of the intelligence agencies went into Conclave to devise a strategy to protect the nation from the growing threat from their enemies' cyber warfare programs, and attempting to protect their secrets.