With the death of Pope Francis announced by the Vatican, the Roman Catholic Church now enters a sacred and centuries-old process to select his successor — a process steeped in ritual, symbolism, and history.
The transition begins with the confirmation of death, a responsibility held by the Camerlengo, the Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church.
In a symbolic gesture, the Camerlengo calls the pope’s baptismal name three times.
Upon no response, the death is officially declared, and a certificate issued.
This moment marks the beginning of the Sede Vacante — Latin for “the seat being vacant.”
The papal ring, known as the Fisherman’s Ring, is destroyed to prevent forgery or any unauthorised use.
During this interregnum, the governance of Vatican City temporarily passes to the College of Cardinals.
The Church then enters a nine-day mourning period, known as Novemdiales, during which the late pope’s body lies in state in St. Peter’s Basilica for public veneration.
A papal funeral typically takes place between the fourth and sixth day after death.
Behind the scenes, preparations begin for the next major step: the Conclave, the assembly of cardinals for the election of a pope, where only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote.
The conclave, usually held 15 to 20 days after the pope’s death, takes place in the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals are secluded from the outside world.
Voting is done by secret ballot and requires a two-thirds majority.
Up to four votes can be cast each day — two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
After each round, ballots are burned in a stove: if no pope is elected, chemicals are added to produce black smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney.
White smoke, however, signals a successful election.
Once a new pope accepts the role, he selects a papal name and makes his first public appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the cardinal protodeacon announces to the world: Habemus Papam! — “We have a pope!”
End of an era
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years, died on Monday, April 21, 2025, following a prolonged battle with pneumonia.
He had recently been discharged from the hospital in Rome and was continuing his recovery at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta residence.
The Argentine-born pope has led the Catholic Church since 2013, bringing a reformist and pastoral tone to the papacy.
His leadership was marked by a more inclusive stance on contentious issues such as homosexuality, the death penalty, and the role of women in the Church.
However, he also struggled to fully address the deep-rooted sexual abuse scandals that continued to haunt the church.
Despite health challenges, including the recent lung infection, Francis had continued to appear in public, making a surprise appearance at St. Peter’s Square just weeks before his passing.