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Immediate Steps After the Pope’s Death

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Pope Francis – Jorge Mario Bergoglio: 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025

Papacy:  13 March 2013 – 21 April 2025

Upon the death of a pope, the Catholic Church initiates a series of time-honored rituals and procedures to honor the deceased pontiff and elect his successor. Here’s an overview of the protocol and timeline:

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Immediate Steps After the Pope’s Death

1. Verification of Death: The Camerlengo (currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell) confirms the pope’s death by calling his baptismal name three times.  

2. Destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring: The Camerlengodestroys the “Ring of the Fisherman,” symbolizing the end of the pope’s authority.  

3. Sede Vacante: The period known as sede vacante (“the seat being vacant”) begins, during which the Camerlengo administers the day-to-day affairs of the Vatican.  

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Funeral and Mourning Period

• Lying in State: The pope’s body lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing, typically for three days.  

• Funeral: The funeral is held between the fourth and sixth day after death, often in St. Peter’s Square, and is attended by thousands, including world leaders.  

• Novendiales: A nine-day period of mourning, known as novendiales, follows the funeral.  

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Election of a New Pope (Conclave)

• General Congregations: Cardinals gather for meetings to discuss the needs of the Church and potential candidates.  

• Timing: The conclave to elect a new pope begins 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death.  

• Eligibility: Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote; currently, there are 135 such cardinal electors.  

• Conclave Procedure:

• Held in the Sistine Chapel, cardinals are sequestered from the outside world.  

• Voting occurs up to four times daily.  

• A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope.  

• Ballots are burned after each voting session; black smoke indicates no decision, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope.  

• Announcement: Upon election, the new pope is introduced from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the proclamation “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”), followed by his first blessing.