Following the Vatican’s announcement on Monday of Pope Francis’s passing, the Roman Catholic Church will proceed through a series of established rituals marking the transition from one papacy to the next:
The pope’s camerlengo (chamberlain), Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will officially confirm the death. He will then seal the pope’s private apartment and begin preparations for the funeral.
The camerlengo, along with three assistants, will determine when the pope’s coffin will be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. They will also ensure that the pope’s “Fisherman’s Ring” and his lead seal are broken to prevent their future use. Notably, no autopsy will be performed.
A period of mourning lasting nine days will commence, with the date of the funeral and burial to be decided by the College of Cardinals. The funeral is typically held four to six days after the death in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis had previously indicated that, unlike many of his predecessors, he wished not to be buried in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica but in Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica, and in a simple wooden casket.
During the interregnum, the College of Cardinals will oversee the day-to-day affairs of the Church. However, their powers are limited, and much of the central Church administration will come to a standstill.
The conclave to elect a new pope will convene in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel between 15 and 20 days after the death. The exact date will be determined by the cardinals, who will be confined to the Vatican for the duration of the conclave.
All cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to participate in the secret ballot. A majority of at least two-thirds plus one is required to elect a new pope, which can result in multiple rounds of voting spread over several days. Once an election is concluded, the newly elected pope will be asked if he accepts the position and what papal name he wishes to take.
The world will learn of the papal election when an official burns the paper ballots with specific chemicals to produce white smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. Black smoke, created using other chemicals, indicates an inconclusive vote.
The dean of the College of Cardinals will then step onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce “Habemus Papam” (We have a pope). The new pope will subsequently appear and impart his blessing upon the crowd gathered in the square.
