With the passing of Pope Francis at age 88 on Easter Monday, the Vatican now enters a solemn and structured period of mourning and transition that follows the death of any sitting pontiff.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936.
He later chose Francis as his name to honour Saint Francis of Assisi.
Francis was declared pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, became the first pope to resign in 600 years.
Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, is likely to be remembered for his pastoral tone, focus on social justice, and attempts to reform the Vatican’s bureaucracy.
Here is a step-by-step process of the common tradition that follows the passing of the Head of the Catholic Church.
Nine Days of Mourning (Novendiale)
The first formal response is the Novendiale, a nine-day mourning period marked by daily Masses and prayers both at the Vatican and in Catholic churches around the world.
During this time, the Pope’s body is displayed in St Peter’s Basilica, dressed in traditional papal vestments. Thousands of mourners are expected to file past his remains to pay their last respects.
Funeral Arrangements
The funeral is traditionally held four to six days after the pope’s death, usually in St Peter’s Square. It is expected to be led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, currently 91-year-old Giovanni Battista Re.
Global dignitaries, including heads of state and royalty, will attend the service. When Pope John Paul II died in 2005, over four million people attended his funeral, one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in modern history.
Burial Plans
While popes are typically buried in three nested coffins comprising cypress, lead, and elm, Pope Francis had expressed a desire for a simpler burial in a coffin made of wood and zinc.
He also broke from tradition in his choice of final resting place. In a 2023 interview, he revealed he would like to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, rather than the Vatican Grottoes beneath St Peter’s Basilica, where most of his predecessors, including Benedict XVI, are interred.
Only seven popes have been buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, the last being Clement IX in 1669.
The Sede Vacante
Upon the pope’s death, the papacy enters the sede vacante, or vacant seat. During this period, all major decisions are paused. Administrative functions of the Holy See are handled by senior officials, but the Church refrains from enacting new policies or directives.
Election of a New Pope
Between 15 and 20 days after the pope’s death, the College of Cardinals comprising cardinals under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pontiff through a secret conclave.
The chapel is sealed, and voting is conducted up to four times daily. A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope.
If no one emerges after 33 ballots, the two leading candidates face a final run-off. Ballots are burned after each round: black smoke signals no decision; white smoke indicates that a new pope has been chosen.
Once elected, the new pope is presented on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, where he delivers his first public blessing as leader of the world’s estimated 1.4 billion Catholics.
