The death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday morning prompted the activation of a strictly predetermined protocol at the Vatican.
However, despite the procedures and traditions, some of which date back to ancient Rome, the Pope's desire for a simpler funeral ceremony, in a wooden coffin and avoiding the complicated rituals that are customary when the Pontiff dies, has already been announced.
Cardinal Joseph Farrell has already taken over as interim head of the Vatican and, among other things, officially announced the death of Pope Francis. His announcement opened a process at the end of which the new head of the Roman Catholic Church will be elected. The election process, which is taking place in complete secrecy, is usually tense, as progressive and conservative cardinals want to gain control of the Vatican, which addresses more than a billion believers around the world.
The confirmation of death, the seal and the papal apartments
According to tradition, the confirmation of the Pope's death was made by the camerlengo, a senior official, namely Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who also took over as temporary administrator of the Vatican.
According to tradition, the chamberlain visits the Pope's body in his private chapel and calls out his name to "wake him up." Now, the process is considered symbolic, as doctors confirm death by medical means.
When the Pontiff fails to respond, his ring, which also serves as a seal for official papal documents, is destroyed or defaced, signaling the end of his term. The papal apartments are also sealed.
Before the news is announced through the Vatican to the media, the camerlegno also informs the College of Cardinals of the Pope's death.
The mourning period
The death of Pope Francis is being followed by nine days of mourning, known as Novendiale, a tradition with roots in Roman antiquity. Italy is also declaring national mourning.
The Pope's body will be blessed, dressed in papal vestments and displayed in St. Peter's Basilica for public veneration. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line up, including foreign leaders and dignitaries.
The Pope's body was previously displayed on a raised pedestal. However, following his wishes, Pope Francis will lie in an open coffin.
In the past, Popes were embalmed and some had their organs removed before burial. In fact, in a church near the Trevi Fountain, the hearts of over 20 are preserved in marble urns. However, these practices have been abandoned.
During the nine days of mourning, the Vatican enters a transitional phase called sede vacante ("the seat is vacant"). During this time, the Roman Catholic Church is governed by the Conclave, the College of Commissioners. However, they cannot make major decisions until a new Pope is elected.
The burial
The Pope's funeral will likely take place in St. Peter's Square. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather in the coming days. The ceremony will be presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals.
The Pope's burial, according to tradition, takes place in the Vatican grottoes beneath St. Peter's Basilica, where nearly 100 papal tombs are located. Pope Francis' predecessor, Benedict, who resigned in 2013 and died in 2022, is also buried there.
However, Francis announced in 2023 that he had chosen the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for his burial. He will thus become the first pope in a century to be buried outside the Vatican.
According to tradition, the Pope is buried in three coffins: one made of cypress, one of zinc and one of elm, placed one inside the other. Pope Francis, however, has asked to be buried in a single simple wooden coffin.
"We Have a Pope"
Two to three weeks after the Pope's funeral, the College of Cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave, a secret process to elect a new Pope. Under the terms of the conclave, any baptized male Roman Catholic can be elected Pope. However, for the past 700 years, the Pope has always been chosen by the College.
Candidates do not openly campaign for the position, while the battles for the title are considered very intense.
On the day of the vote, the Sistine Chapel is sealed and the cardinals, who have taken an oath of secrecy, are locked inside.
Only cardinals under the age of 80 have the right to vote. About 120 cardinals will vote secretly for their chosen candidate, writing their name on a ballot and placing it in a chalice at the top of the Holy Table.
If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority of the College, another round of voting takes place. In total, there can be up to four rounds per day. The conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2 lasted about 3 hours and five votes, but the process can take longer: a conclave in the 2013th century lasted about three years, while another in the 24th century lasted four months.
Once the ballots are counted, they are burned in a stove inside the Sistine Chapel, which has been set up in advance by the Vatican firefighters. A second stove burns a chemical that sends a smoke signal through a chimney to the outside world: Black smoke means that a new pope has not been chosen, white smoke means that there has been.
Once elected, the new Pope appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and announces: "Habemus papam," which means "We have a Pope."
Then, after choosing his papal name (likely one honoring a saint or predecessor) and donning a white cassock, the newly elected pope steps out onto the balcony to deliver his first public address. And with that, the Catholic world has a new leader.
Source: protothema.gr
