Gladness Gideon
The passing of Pope Francis on Monday has set in motion ancient yet evolving Catholic traditions, ushering the Holy See into the period of Sede Vacante, as the Church prepares to elect a new spiritual leader.
This interregnum — meaning “vacant seat” — marks the suspension of papal authority until a new pope is chosen. During this time, Irish-American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, appointed by Francis in 2019 as camerlengo (chamberlain), assumes responsibility for the Church’s day-to-day affairs.
Cardinal Farrell is tasked with certifying the death of the pontiff, traditionally done by calling out the pope’s birth name and tapping his forehead three times with a silver hammer — though modern procedures may vary. He will also oversee the destruction of the “Fisherman’s Ring,” a symbolic act marking the end of Francis’s papacy.
All other senior Vatican officials automatically lose their roles upon the pope’s death, pending reappointment by his successor.
As mourning begins, preparations are underway for a funeral that reflects Francis’s wish for humility. Breaking from centuries of opulence, the late pope will be buried in a single coffin made of wood and zinc, rather than the traditional triple-layered cypress, lead, and elm.
Francis, known for his devotion to simplicity and pastoral leadership, will be interred at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome instead of St. Peter’s Basilica. His body will lie in state in an open coffin for public veneration at St. Peter’s, rather than being displayed on a raised platform adorned with cushions, as past popes were.
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Meanwhile, cardinals from across the globe will gather in a series of general congregations to prepare for the conclave — the secretive electoral process to choose the next pope. The conclave must begin between 15 and 20 days after the pope’s death.
Currently, 135 cardinals are eligible to vote, 108 of whom were appointed by Francis himself. They will be locked inside the Sistine Chapel until a new pontiff is elected by a two-thirds majority, under strict secrecy and threat of excommunication.
Smoke signals from the chapel will announce progress: black for inconclusive ballots and white for a successful election, accompanied by the ringing of St. Peter’s bells.
Upon election, the new pope will be led to the Room of Tears to reflect and choose his papal name. After donning his new vestments, he will step onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to be introduced to the world with the proclamation: “Habemus Papam!” — We have a pope.
This moment will herald the start of a new papacy, guiding over 1.3 billion Catholics across the world.