When the pope dies, it initiates a deeply symbolic and highly ritualized process for the Catholic Church, marking the end of one papacy and the beginning of the transition to a new one.
Immediate Actions After the Pope's Death
- The pope’s death is first medically confirmed. Then, the Camerlengo (the Vatican official responsible for managing the Church’s temporal affairs during the vacancy) formally confirms the death, traditionally by calling the pope’s baptismal name three times without response. The old custom of tapping the pope’s head with a silver hammer is no longer practiced
- The Camerlengo announces the death to senior church officials and the public, then seals the papal apartments and offices, symbolizing the end of the pope’s authority. The pope’s Fisherman’s Ring , used to seal official documents, is ceremonially destroyed to prevent misuse
- Bells toll at St. Peter’s Basilica to announce the pope’s death, ringing once for each year of his life
Mourning and Funeral
- The Vatican enters a nine-day mourning period (novendiale), during which Masses are held in honor of the late pope. The pope’s body lies in state, allowing the faithful to pay respects, usually in St. Peter’s Basilica
- The pope’s funeral takes place between four and six days after death. Pope Francis revised the funeral rites in 2024 to simplify them and allowed burial outside the Vatican; he will be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major rather than St. Peter’s Basilica, where most popes are traditionally interred
The Interregnum: Sede Vacante
- The period between the death of a pope and the election of his successor is called sede vacante ("the vacant seat"). During this time, the Church is without a pope, and the Camerlengo oversees the Vatican’s temporal affairs but cannot make decisions reserved for the pope
- Most Vatican officials lose their positions temporarily, except a few key figures who maintain essential functions until a new pope is chosen
Election of the New Pope
- About 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death, the College of Cardinals convenes in a secretive conclave inside the Sistine Chapel to elect the new pope. Only cardinals under 80 years old vote, and a two-thirds majority is required
- The voting process involves multiple ballots per day, with votes scrutinized and announced internally. If no candidate receives the required majority after 13 days, a runoff vote between the top two candidates is held
- Once a new pope is elected and accepts, the ballots are burned with chemicals that produce white smoke, signaling to the world that a new pope has been chosen. A cardinal then announces the election with the traditional phrase "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope")
In summary, the death of a pope triggers a solemn period of mourning, ceremonial rites confirming the pope's passing and ending his authority, followed by the interregnum of sede vacante, culminating in the conclave where the cardinals elect the next pope to lead the Catholic Church
