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According to ancient Roman custom, a total of nine days of mourning are observed upon the death of a pope. According to tradition, the pope’s vested body lies in St. Peter’s Basilica during these days.
The heart of the late Pope Francis will be preserved in a white stone pitcher. After the death of a Pope, his funeral is celebrated with various rituals and ceremonies. These rituals have been followed with devotion since ancient times.
Not only that, there are various rules for making the news of the Pope’s death public. When the doctors inform that the treatment is no longer working. He is not responding. His breathing has stopped, his heart has stopped working. Then, according to tradition, the Pope’s original identification ring is destroyed. That is, the Pope’s house is closed, indicating that the current Pope’s term of office has ended.
Traditionally, the camerlegno (a senior Vatican official) is the first to confirm the death of a pope. He calls the pope three times, and if he doesn’t respond, he is declared dead. The current position is held by Irish Cardinal Kevin Farrell. He is the one who reports the news to the College of Cardinals, a committee of senior church officials. The Vatican then officially announces the pope’s death to the media.
The Pope is usually buried four to six, sometimes nine, days after his death. The funeral is led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals. The Pope is usually buried in the Vatican’s Grottes. This tomb is located next to St. Peter’s Basilica. However, Pope Francis expressed his desire in an interview to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
According to ancient Roman custom, a total of 9 days of mourning are observed for the death of a pope. According to tradition, the body of the pope lies in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for these days. He is anointed with perfume all the time. Several organs are removed from the body through surgery. In a church near the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the hearts of 22 previous popes are preserved in a white stone pitcher-shaped container. Christians consider these to be holy relics.
The new pope was elected in great secrecy about three weeks after the pope’s funeral. The College of Cardinals convened a conclave in the Sistine Chapel, where the new pope was elected, following a tradition that had been followed for the past 700 years. On the day of the election, the Sistine Chapel, home to Michelangelo’s world-famous ceiling paintings, was closed and the cardinals were not allowed to leave until the vote.
After the voting, all the ballots are burned in a stove. Vatican firefighters are also present. Then a second stove is lit. From which smoke is emitted through a chimney outside the church using chemicals. The spectators present can tell whether the papal election has been held by looking at the color of the smoke. Black smoke means the election is not complete. White smoke means the papal election has been held.
Who could be the new pope?
Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Age 70. Since 2013, he has been the Vatican’s secretary for foreign affairs. He holds the highest position in the conclave. Later name, Cardinal Peter Erdogan. 72 years old, a Hungarian. Peter is a staunch opponent of divorce and remarriage among Catholics. He is actually a devout worshiper of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Also in the running are Cardinal Louis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke. —Translated from thewall.in