Pope Francis, 88, remains in critical condition in a Rome hospital due to a complex lung infection and other serious ailments. The Catholic world is gripped with uncertainty as the Vatican awaits news of his fate.
Upon death, a series of time-honored rituals will unfold. The head of the Vatican’s health department and the cardinal chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church will confirm the pope’s death, marking the beginning of the transition process. The body will be dressed in a white cassock and brought to the pope’s private chapel for a ceremony.
The camerlengo, currently Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, will draft a document authenticating the pope’s death and secure his personal papers. A ceremonial hammer will be used to destroy the so-called fisherman’s ring, preventing forgeries.
Francis’ funeral rites have been simplified compared to previous popes. The body will remain in a single coffin made of wood and lined with zinc, rather than being placed on a raised pedestal. A public viewing will take place directly in St. Peter’s Basilica, where thousands have thronged to pay respects to popes in the past.
The funeral must occur between four and six days after the pope’s death, and will last nine days. The College of Cardinals will decide on the day and hour for the procession to bring the body to the basilica. A conclave will be held within 15-20 days to elect a new pope, with cardinals gathering in the Sistine Chapel to cast secret ballots.
The sede vacante period is characterized by the isolation of the College of Cardinals, who must swear an oath of secrecy and vote by secret ballot. Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible to participate, and a two-thirds majority is required for election. The conclave process culminates in the white smoke signal, which indicates the election of a new pope.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/article/francis-what-happens-when-pope-dies.html