Pope Francis’s death on Monday has triggered long-standing Church protocols, ultimately leading to the election of a new pope by the College of Cardinals — though with some updates.
Sede Vacante
With the pope’s passing, the Catholic Church enters a phase called “Sede Vacante” (Vacant See), during which a senior cardinal temporarily oversees Church affairs until a new pope is chosen. This role, known as the camerlengo or chamberlain, is currently held by Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, appointed by Francis in February 2019.
He is the only senior Church figure to retain his position; all others step down upon the pope’s death. One of his duties is to verify the pope’s death, a process that once involved tapping the forehead with a silver hammer and calling out his birth name. The camerlengo also supervises the destruction of the “Fisherman’s Ring,” the gold signet ring unique to each pope, which used to prevent forgery but now symbolically marks the end of a pontificate. This act takes place in front of the cardinals during their initial Sede Vacante meeting.
Simplified Funeral
Cardinals from around the world will gather for a series of “general congregations,” where they will schedule the burial—set to occur between the fourth and sixth day after death—and organize the “novemdiales,” nine days of mourning.
Unlike his recent predecessors who were buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis requested interment at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. His funeral will also diverge from tradition: his body will be placed in a single coffin made of wood and zinc, rather than the usual three nested coffins of cypress, lead, and elm. This change reflects Francis’s view of the papacy as a humble pastoral role rather than one of power. His open coffin will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, replacing the custom of displaying the pope’s body upright on cushions.
The Conclave
The general congregations also serve as an opportunity to assess potential successors, or “papabili.” They will determine the date for the conclave, which must start between 15 and 20 days after the pope’s death.
The conclave, a centuries-old process, involves cardinals under the age of 80 gathering in strict secrecy to elect the next pope. Of the current 135 eligible cardinal-electors, 108 were chosen by Francis. The group includes 53 from Europe, 20 from North America, 18 from Africa, 23 from Asia, 4 from Oceania, and 17 from South America.
The term “conclave” comes from Latin for “with a key,” signifying that the cardinals remain locked in until a new pope is elected. Voting takes place twice each morning and afternoon, requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the new pontiff. Ballots are burned after each session—black smoke means no decision, white smoke indicates a successful vote, accompanied by the ringing of St. Peter’s bells.
Habemus Papam!
After the election, the new pope is taken to a small chamber off the Sistine Chapel called the “sala delle lacrime” (Room of Tears), where he can reflect on the moment. The Dean of the College of Cardinals, currently Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, asks whether he accepts the role and what name he will take. He becomes pope immediately upon accepting.
The new pope is then dressed in papal robes—three sizes are prepared—and receives homage from the cardinals. Soon after, he steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the senior cardinal deacon, currently Renato Raffaele Martino, declares in Latin: “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a pope!”).
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