What happens when a pope dies? The protocol, the funeral, the conclave (and the news introduced by Francesco)
From the assessment of the disappearance to the burial, by the symbolism adopted at the Conclave meeting called to choose who the new Pope will be: the ritual that is followed by the death of the pontiff
Pope Francis And died TodayMonday 21 April. The pontiff was in Rome, at Casa Santa Marta, where he had been transferred after hospitalization to Gemelli. Cardinal Farrell give the news: « At 7.35 the bishop of Rome returned to his father’s house »
The death of a pontiff marks the beginning of A ritual with a millenary traditioncharacterized by rigorous ceremonial and – in some respects – unknown, which over the years has suffered Some changes fruit of the times. Not least some introduced by Pope Francis, the XXXX who died.
Let’s retrace the more significant stagesfrom the assessment of the disappearance to the burial, by the symbolism adopted at the Conclave meeting called to choose who will be the new Pope, vicar of Christ and successor of Peter.
Ascertain the death
First of all, the Pope’s death must be ascertained by the Camerlengo – The cardinal in charge of administering the finances of the Holy See and of preside over the government of the same during the period known as « vacant seat » – in front of two figures: the master of the liturgical celebrations and the secretary and chancellor of the apostolic chamber. In the past, to decree the death the Camerlengo – according to tradition – he called the pontiff three times with the name of the baptism as he beat his forehead with a hammer. If he received no answer, he pronounced the phrase Real pope mortuus east («The pope really died « ). This ritual is certified – in reality – Until 1878 with the disappearance of Pope Pius IX, ascertained by Camerlengo Gioacchino Pecci, The future lion XIII. In recent decades, the death of a pontiff comes decreed by a doctor. The phrase in Latin, however, is reported by the Camerlengo on the death certificate of the pontiff drawn up by the Apostolic Chancellery, whose publication kicks off at the beginning of the « vacant headquarters » period. Since 2019 Cardinal Camerlengo is Kevin Joseph Farrell.
The spread of the news in the world
After this first act, the pope’s room and study are sealed and the Camerlengo communicates the death to the vicar of Rome that spreads it to the whole world. The bronze door of San Pietro is closed in half and the bells sound hammer. As stated in the Dominici Gregis universes, The Apostolic Constitution of the Church promulgated by John Paul II on February 22, 1996 – the document that dictates the rules to be followed during the « vacant office » period, « If the Roman Pontiff should die out of Rome, he is up to the College of Cardinals to arrange everything necessary for a worthy and decent translation of the body in the Basilica of San Pietro in the Vatican ». In the text it is confirmed that it is The Camerlengo to attest to the Pope’s death, without indicating the modalities.
A people on pilgrimage
The Pope’s body is therefore transported to the Sistine Chapelin procession: here comes embalmed and dressed with sacred vestments (the white mitria, the red house, the white wool pallium with black crosses). The body is exhibited on a catafalco to the faithful for three days, while the cardinals for nine days celebrate The so -called « novediali » of Suffragio. The cardinals themselves are called to Break the fisherman ringwhich the Pope receives during the solemn mass of the pontificate beginning and the lead seal with which he makes official the apostolic letters (starting from the pontificate of Wojtyła the ring is canceled with a « simple » scratching).
The funeral
The papal funeral, called Missa Poenentialis, It is celebrated in San Pietro in the presence of State delegations from all over the world: Traditionally, the ritual was held under the Pontifical altar of Bernini, but for the latest funeral – also for the large influx of people – it was then chosen to use the outdoor square. The body of the pontiff It is placed in one in a triple cash case of cypress, lead and walnut: Before it is closed and sealed, the face is covered by a silk drape. In the end, The coffin is brought to the grave under the basilica in the « Vatican caves » And the remains of the first Pope are preserved. Not all the popes are, however, buried here: the Pope can, in fact, leave precise provisions on the place of burial of his body. Some examples? Gregory XII (1406-1415) is buried in Recanati; Benedict XII (1334-1342) and John XXII (1316-1334) in Avignon; Gregory X (1271-1276) in Arezzo.
The « simple revolution » of Francesco
Francesco has chosen to revolutionize the ritualas we read in theOrdo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, The final update of the liturgical standards on the funeral of the Popes published in April 2024: The first edition of the text was approved in 1998 by John Paul II and published in 2000, used for the funeral of the same in 2005 and, with adaptations, in those of the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2023 From Bergoglio onwards -, his body will no longer be exposed to the veneration of the faithful on a catafalco, but on a simple open wood coffin, « With dignity, but like every Christian ». Bergoglio also simplified the funeral rite, providing for a wakefulness, and not two, e No ceremony for closing the coffin. Another element of novelty consists in the introduction of the indications necessary for the possible burial in a different place from the Vatican Basilica. Francesco confirmed that he had given provisions for be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore, The Basilica where even before becoming a pontiff he went to go to pray, «In a room where they kept the candelabra. That’s the place … they confirmed me that everything is ready ».
Towards the conclave
How do you proceed, then, after the celebration of the funeral? As we always read in the Dominici Gregis universes to chapter 37, to proceed with the election of a new pontiff A minimum of fifteen days must be awaitedto allow the absent cardinals to reach Rome for the conclave, but « Moreover, I leave to the College of Cardinals the right to anticipate the beginning of the conclave if it consists of the presence of all cardinal voters, as well as the right to continue, if there are serious reasons, the beginning of the election for some other days. However, at the most, twenty days from the start of the vacant headquartersall the cardinal voters present are required to proceed with the election ».
The stamp with limited validity
As a last curiosity, upon the death of the pontiff the Vatican post office emit gods stamps depicting the coat of arms of the Holy See, the two keys decreed of San Pietro – the golden one refers to the power of the pontiff to dissolve and tie the otherworldly things, the silver one indicates the earthly spiritual power -, with limited postal validity for this period.
