Immediately after the announcement of his extradition Pope Francis by the Vaticanare put into application strict traditions and procedures marking the end of a papacy and lead to the election of the next modifika.

The ‘blank seat’ and the role of Camerlengo

As stated in Reuterswith the death of the Pope officially begins the period Side Vacante, that is, the ‘vacant seat“

During this time, the management of the daily cases of the Roman Catholic Church, numbering nearly 1.4 billion believers, the Camerlengo (Camerlengo)who today is the Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Camerlengo is responsible for the official finding of the Pope’s death, now with a medical certificate and a registration. Traditionally until the 20th century, this process was done as follows: they hit the pope’s front three times with a silver hammer.

Also, Camerlengo seals the Pope’s personal residence, which in this case is his simple suite in the hostel Santa Marta, while destroying ‘Fisherman’s ring‘(Anello piscatorio) and its lead stamp to prevent any malicious use.

He then decides in collaboration with other cardinals when the Pope’s body will be transported to popular pilgrimage.

Burial and mourning

The Pope’s body will be put on a popular pilgrimage, following a decision by Camerlengo and the cardinals under 80 years of age. Mourning lasts 9 days, and burial takes place between the fourth and sixth days of his death.

Pope Francis, in another sign of humility, had amended the funeral rituals in 2024, asking to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Close to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary, and not the underground tombs of St. Peter.

Still asked to be placed In a simple wooden coffin and not to set up the traditional platform (Catafalque) for his exposure to the public.

The Conclave and the election of the new Pope

After burial, the process of election of the new Pope begins by the burial Conclave.

The Cardinals under 80 For years, they arrive in Rome and participate in the General Assemblies, where the priorities of the Church and the characteristics the next Pope must have.

Once the concussion begins, the cardinals are isolated in the Sistina hats and They are secretly votinguntil a new modifice is selected by a majority of 2/3.

It is a strictly defined ritual with roots reaching the 13th century when the cardinals began to ‘Locked’ (cum clave, ie ‘with key’) to accelerate the election and prevent external interventions.

Until 1978, the cardinals lived in rough rooms near the Sistina hats. Since 2005, they have been staying at the Santa Marta hospitality house, a building with about 130 rooms, which is sealed during the process. Cardinals are transported to and from Sistina hats by bus, under strict safety.

Throughout Conclavium, participants are completely cut off from the outside world. The use of mobile phones, internet or newspapers are not allowed while the Police of the Vatican uses electronic surveillance tools to comply with rules.

On the first day of the procedure, a vote takes place, and in the coming days the cardinals vote twice a day.

If no pope has been elected after 13 days, then vote between the two dominant candidates, but the demand for an increased majority is not changed. The goal is to achieve a real unity and to prevent compromise options.

black tobacco

How is a new modifice announced

When a new Pope is emerged, he is asked whether he accepts the election and which papal name he wishes to receive. If it refuses, the process starts from the beginning. If she accepts, she wears the white vestments prepared in three sizes and sits on her throne Sistina, where she accepts the bowing and obedience of the cardinals.

The global public is informed by the election through the feature white tobacco coming out of the chimney of the Sistina Hat. White tobacco is produced by burning the ballots with special chemicals while the black tobacco It means that there was no election.

A short time later, the upper cardinal deacon – Right now the French Cardinal Dominic Manbert – appears in central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to exclaim the history of ‘Habemus Papam “(” We have a Pope “).

The new Pontiff then makes his first appearance and gives his blessing to the faithful, inaugurating a new era for the Catholic Church.