The Path to the Conclave: What Follows the Passing of Pope Francis?

Pope Francis has passed away, initiating a series of well-defined protocols regarding the transition of leadership within the Catholic Church. The subsequent actions are steeped in tradition, some dating back centuries, while others have been established by the late pontiff himself.

According to Vatican regulations, a pope should be interred within four to six days following their death. The precise date for the funeral will be determined by the assembled cardinals in Rome, who will also oversee the official declaration of the pope's passing. This responsibility falls to the Camerlengo, a cardinal tasked with managing the transition period between a pope's death and the election of a successor.

The official confirmation of death must take place in the papal private chapel, regardless of whether the pope died in a hospital or elsewhere. Historically, this involved a ceremonial knocking on the pope's forehead by the Camerlengo, who would call out the pope's name in Latin. However, this practice was abolished by Pope John Paul II.

Another significant ritual involves the removal of the Fisherman's Ring from the deceased pope's finger, a symbol of papal authority. Following this, the ring and the papal seal are typically destroyed. The body of the pope will then be transported to St. Peter's Basilica, where it will lie in state in an open wooden coffin until the evening before the funeral.

As for the funeral mass, it is traditionally led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, who is responsible for delivering the homily. Currently, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re holds this position, but at 91 years old, his health may affect his ability to officiate. If he is unable, the task will pass to Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, who is 81.

Pope Francis had previously expressed a desire for a simplified funeral liturgy, leading to modifications in the burial rites for popes in April 2024. He sought to emphasize that a papal funeral should reflect the life of a shepherd and disciple of Christ rather than the grandeur of a worldly leader. A notable change is the reduction in the number of coffins; unlike his predecessors, who were buried in multiple layered coffins, Pope Francis will be interred in a single wooden coffin.

In a departure from tradition, Pope Francis has chosen not to be buried in the Vatican grottos beneath St. Peter's Basilica, where 24 past popes have found their final resting place. Instead, he has designated the church of Santa Maria Maggiore as his burial site, a location he holds in high regard and where he often prayed before and after international trips. Historically, only two popes have been buried in this church, with the last pope to be interred outside the Vatican being Pope Leo XIII in 1903.

Following the funeral mass, a nine-day period of mourning will commence in the Vatican, during which the attending cardinals will conduct daily services and prayers in prominent Roman churches. This practice, known as Novendiale, follows the ancient Roman tradition of mourning for nine days, a rite reserved for popes within the Catholic Church.

In the absence of a sitting pope, the College of Cardinals will temporarily assume leadership of the global Church until a new pope is elected. During this time, the heads of various Vatican departments must suspend their functions, with the exception of the Camerlengo and the Major Penitentiary, who oversees matters related to indulgences.

In preparation for the conclave, the cardinals summoned by the dean will participate in General Congregations. These meetings will provide an opportunity to discuss the state of the Church and to articulate the qualities desired in a new pope. Furthermore, these gatherings allow cardinals to familiarize themselves with one another and to identify potential candidates for the papacy.

The conclave itself is mandated to occur within 15 to 20 days following the pope's death, taking place in the Sistine Chapel. Only those cardinals who have not yet reached the age of 80 at the time of the pope's passing are eligible to vote. A candidate is elected as pope upon obtaining a two-thirds majority of the votes. If the election extends beyond the 35th ballot, a runoff is conducted between the top two candidates, at which point the remaining candidates lose their voting privileges.