DE News Desk :
VATICAN CITY – The death of Pope Francis on Monday marks the beginning of a solemn and historic process rooted in centuries-old tradition, as the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new leader.
While much of the procedure follows ancient customs, this transition will also reflect changes ushered in during Francis’s papacy.
The Sede Vacante Begins
With the papal seat now vacant, the Church enters a period known as Sede Vacante — Latin for “the vacant seat.”
During this time, all major Vatican officials lose their authority, with one exception: the camerlengo, or chamberlain, who oversees the Church’s day-to-day operations until a new pope is chosen.Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an Irish-American appointed by Francis in 2019, now assumes this critical role.
One of his first duties is to officially certify the pope’s death — a ritual that once included tapping the pontiff’s forehead with a silver hammer and calling out his baptismal name.
That tradition has since faded, but the symbolism remains.The camerlengo will also oversee the destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring, the unique gold signet worn by each pope.
Historically, this act prevented document forgery, but today it serves as a formal symbol marking the end of a papacy.
A Simpler Farewell
Cardinals from across the globe will soon gather in Rome for general congregations, meetings that set plans for the funeral and the election process.
Pope Francis requested a modest burial, diverging from tradition by choosing the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore over the customary resting place in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Unlike his predecessors who were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead, and elm, Francis will rest in a single wooden and zinc coffin — a choice that reflects his emphasis on humility and pastoral service.
“He wished to be remembered not as a powerful figure, but as a disciple of Christ,” said a senior Vatican official.In another shift from long-standing custom, Francis’s body will lie in repose in St. Peter’s Basilica in an open coffin, rather than being propped on a ceremonial platform.
Preparing for the Conclave
The general congregations also provide a chance for cardinals to assess papabili — the potential successors to Pope Francis.
The date for the conclave, the secretive election process, will be set to begin no sooner than 15 days and no later than 20 days after the pope’s passing.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote.
Of the 135 voting cardinals, 108 were appointed by Francis himself — a testament to his influence on the Church’s future direction.
The geographic distribution includes 53 from Europe, 20 from North America, 23 from Asia, 18 from Africa, 17 from South America, and 4 from Oceania.
The conclave will take place, as it has since the 19th century, within the Sistine Chapel beneath Michelangelo’s famed frescoes.
True to the term “conclave” — meaning “with a key” — the cardinals are secluded without outside contact until a new pope is chosen.
Each day, the cardinals vote four times — twice in the morning, twice in the afternoon.
After each round, the ballots are burned: black smoke signals no decision; white smoke, accompanied by the ringing of St. Peter’s bells, announces that a new pope has been elected.
A New Shepherd
Once a candidate secures two-thirds of the votes, he is led into the “Room of Tears” — a private sacristy where the weight of the moment can be felt in solitude.
There, the newly elected pope dons papal vestments (prepared in three sizes) and considers the name he will take.Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the current Dean of the College of Cardinals, will formally ask the chosen candidate if he accepts the role.
Upon acceptance, he becomes the Bishop of Rome and the new pontiff.Soon after, he will emerge to greet the faithful from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the iconic words: “Habemus Papam” — “We have a pope.”