What happens when the Pope dies? Pope Francis himself determined these changes

The State of health of Pope Francis remains critical and ensures concern worldwide. Since his election in 2013, he has never had to be treated in the hospital for as long as it is now. Should the worst case occur and the Pope dying, defined rituals and protocols come into force. But what exactly happens when the head of the Catholic Church dies?

What happens when the Pope dies? These innovations have been around since April 2024

When the Pope dies, the Catholic Church adheres to traditional rituals. Pope Francis himself did not revise this until April 2024. The « Ordo Exsquiarum Romani Pontificis » (in German: Order of the Exequias (death liturgy) of the Roman Pope). These innovations exist loudly vaticannews.va:

Determination of death: Instead of in the Pope's private room, death is now determined in the private chapel of the late Pope. Even the previously common « recognition », where the treasurer hit the Pope with a small hammer against the forehead, is no longer practiced. The Camerlengo Then inform Rome's cardinal vicar, who forwards the news to the public. According to the Catholic News Agency Many Catholic communities choose a defined time, to which the church bells sound at the same time to express their grief about the loss of the Pope.
• Attitude: In the past there were three traditional coffins from cypress, lead and oak. These are no longer used and the body is laid out in a wooden coffin with zinc insert.
• Farewell: Believers can continue to say goodbye to the Pope's open coffin in St. Peter's Basilica, but the body is no longer exhibited on a katafalk, an increased podium. Even the previously common papal bishop's rod is no longer placed next to the coffin.
• burial: Regulations for a possible burial outside the Vatican Basilica were introduced. Pope Francis has expressed that they want to be buried in Rome in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Rituals after the Pope's death: What will happen in the coming days?

When the Pope dies, the Camerlengo takes care of most matters in Vatican. « It is his job to confirm the death of the incumbent Pope and ensure that the Pope's wishes are respected, » Matthew Bunson told the Catholic television broadcaster EWTN Catholic News Agency. The time between the death of the Pope and the choice of a successor is referred to as the sedan vacancy (by Latin « Sede Vacante » – « empty chair »).

Despite the simplification of the entire process, certain rituals remain:

Fischerring is destroyed: After the death of the Pope was officially determined, the Camerlengo destroys the seal ring – known as the fishing ring -, which symbolically ends the pontificate. How katholisch.de reports, the ring is kept until the will is read. This is intended to prevent papal documents from being falsified afterwards.
• Stations in the funeral rite: Although the burial rite has been simplified, the traditional three stations are preserved. This includes the resident of the deceased, where death officially determined and the body is embedded in the coffin. This is followed by St. Peter's Basilica, in which the faithful can say goodbye. The burial location, which was traditionally the Vatican Basilica, can now be outside the Vatican.
• Commemoration: After the funeral, nine commemorative fairs for the late Pope take place, where defined prayer texts are presented. The tradition begins with the exequence fair.

The conclave begins 15 to 20 days after the Sedisvakanz occurs, in which all eligible voters Bishops for election for a new Pope come together. Even with the Pope election there are set processes.