The 88-year-old had been having breathing problems for a few days before being brought to the hospital on February 14. The world was on high alert for an exceptional news event—the death of a pontiff—while the Catholic leader, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, remained in the hospital.
His passing will instantly begin a meticulously planned sequence of events that have been honed over centuries and hundreds of popes.
Following the announcement of the Pope’s passing by Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, several customary procedures and rituals have been put in place to grieve his passing and choose a successor. These centuries-old customs guarantee a seamless transition for the 1.3 billion adherents of the Roman Catholic Church.
Although contemporary medical verification is routine, the Camerlengo formally declared the pope’s death upon his passing. This ceremonial rite may have involved calling out his baptismal name, Jorge Mario, three times. The papal quarters are shut to mark the end of his rule, and the Fisherman’s Ring, which represents papal authority, is destroyed to avoid abuse.
The Church is presently in the sede vacante (vacant seat) era when the College of Cardinals takes over interim leadership and solely deals with necessary issues until a new pope is chosen.
Catholics and dignitaries will be able to pay their condolences by visiting Francis’s body in state at St. Peter’s Basilica. He has requested simplicity, so instead of the customary three nested coffins, he will be laid to rest in a single wooden coffin lined with zinc.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside over his funeral, which is scheduled to take place in St. Peter’s Square in four to six days.
Pope Francis’s choice of Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica as his ultimate burial place, in contrast to previous popes interred in the Vatican Grottoes, reflects his devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Next comes the Novendiale, a nine-day time of grief during which Masses are said all around the world. In the Sistine Chapel, a conclave to choose a new pope is held 15 to 20 days after his passing.
To choose the successor, a two-thirds majority is needed, and only cardinals under 80—currently 138 of 252—can vote. A new pope is announced by white smoke, whereas an inconclusive round is indicated by black smoke during the secret voting.
The chosen cardinal is asked if he accepts and selects a papal name, after which he is introduced with the words Habemus Papam (“We have a Pope”) from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis’s passing ends a revolutionary pontificate characterized by inclusion and humility. The future of the Church will be shaped by the conclave, which will strike a balance between conservative and progressive ideas in a divided society.