Pope Francis’s death marks the end of a historic era in the pontificate. With his passing, the Vatican will now begin the process of selecting a new leader for the global Catholic Church. Cardinals face a critical choice: whether to continue the inclusive, reform-driven path shaped by Pope Francis or shift back to a more traditional and conservative direction.
Following the funeral of Pope Francis, preparations will begin for the election of the next pontiff. But how is a new pope elected? And what exactly is the process for choosing the next head of the Catholic Church? Let’s take a closer look.
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Rituals To Select The New Pontiff
Many of the rituals and process of selecting a new pope remain unchanged. The process is done in a very secretive mode to ensure fair and orderly transition. It remains the same for centuries.
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'Sede Vacante'
The term, Sede Vacante is a latin word. It indicates the period between the death of a pope and the election of the new pope. According to The New York Times report, once the head of the Vatican’s health department officially confirms the pope’s death, Vatican officials dress the pope’s body in a white cassock and place it in his private chapel. At that moment, the cardinal chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church assumes responsibility as the temporary administrator of the Vatican, managing its daily affairs until the election of a new pope.
The Italian title camerlengo is held now by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, a 77-year-old American of Irish origin, who was appointed by Francis in 2019. Reports also suggest that he arranges for the destruction of the so-called fisherman’s ring, used by the pope to seal documents, with a ceremonial hammer to prevent forgeries.
Following the ceremony, the camerlengo prepares an official document confirming the pope’s death, attaching the doctor’s report. He also secures the pope’s private documents and seals his residence- currently the second floor of Casa Santa Marta, where Pope Francis lived during his papacy.
Pope Francis Simplified Funeral Rites In 2024
When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, Vatican officials moved his body to the Apostolic Palace within a few hours. This allowed cardinals, bishops, and other Church leaders to view him privately. Prominent Italian officials came to pay their final respects. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people gathered along the main avenue leading to St. Peter’s Basilica to say their goodbyes, where Vatican staff placed the pope’s body on a red bier in front of the main altar.
As per The New York Times, rewriting the funeral rites in 2024, Francis simplified several elements. He did away with the viewing in the Apostolic Palace, as well as the raised pedestal in the basilica. After the pope dies, churches across Rome hold funeral ceremonies for nine days. Officials usually carry out the burial four to six days after his passing. Pope Francis had expressed his wish to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major—a church he deeply cherished and frequently visited to pray before an icon of the Virgin Mary.