With the passing of Pope Francis, the Church enters a sacred period known as sede vacante —“the seat being vacant.” This tradition dates back centuries and provides both a respectful time of mourning and a structured process for the election of the next pope.
Here’s a summary of the steps:
—Verification and Announcement: The Camerlengo, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, performs a ritual verification of the pope’s death and officially announces it. The period of sede vacante begins.
—Public Mourning and Funeral: The funeral Mass for Pope Francis, typically celebrated between the 4th and 6th day after death, is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. EST) in St. Peter’s Square, in front of the Basilica. In accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The Church observes nine official days of mourning (novemdiales).
Mass of Christian Burial for Pope Francis – Saturday, April 26
The pope’s body will lie in state until his funeral on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. EST). Watch LIVE updates from Vatican News on their YouTube Channel.
—Temporary Governance: While the Holy See is vacant, most Vatican offices suspend their normal work. The College of Cardinals assumes temporary oversight. They meet daily to manage pressing matters and to prepare for the upcoming conclave.
—Conclave Process: Between 15 and 20 days after the pope’s death, the cardinals under age 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel. Through prayer, discussion, and voting (up to four votes per day), they seek to discern who should become the next pope. A two-thirds vote is required.
—A New Pope: Once a pope is elected and he accepts, white smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel chimney. Soon after, the new pope is introduced from the balcony of St. Peter’s with the proclamation: “Habemus Papam” – We have a pope.
Let’s continue to pray for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul, for the cardinals, and for the whole Church as we journey together through these holy days.
NEWS & UPDATES:
Please visit the St. Robert of Newminster website at
strobertchurch.org/pope-francis for additional news and resources and check back regularly for updates.
What Happens When a Pope Dies?
With the passing of Pope Francis, the Church enters a sacred period known as sede vacante —“the seat being vacant.” This tradition dates back centuries and provides both a respectful time of mourning and a structured process for the election of the next pope.
Here’s a summary of the steps:
–Verification and Announcement: The Camerlengo, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, performs a ritual verification of the pope’s death and officially announces it. The period of sede vacante begins.
–Public Mourning and Funeral: The funeral Mass for Pope Francis, typically celebrated between the 4th and 6th day after death, is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square, in front of the Basilica. In accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The Church observes nine official days of mourning (novemdiales).
–Temporary Governance: While the Holy See is vacant, most Vatican offices suspend their normal work. The College of Cardinals assumes temporary oversight. They meet daily to manage pressing matters and to prepare for the upcoming conclave.
–Conclave Process: Between 15 and 20 days after the pope’s death, the cardinals under age 80 gather in the Sistine Chapel. Through prayer, discussion, and voting (up to four votes per day), they seek to discern who should become the next pope. A two-thirds vote is required.
–A New Pope: Once a pope is elected and he accepts, white smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel chimney. Soon after, the new pope is introduced from the balcony of St. Peter’s with the proclamation: “Habemus Papam” – We have a pope.
Let’s continue to pray for the repose of Pope Francis’s soul, for the cardinals, and for the whole Church as we journey together through these holy days.
