Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, as confirmed by the Vatican on Monday. His passing marks the end of a papacy that many viewed as progressive within the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope faced health issues in recent months, including hospitalization for pneumonia and a serious lung infection that required significant medical intervention.
In the wake of his death, a series of traditional procedures will unfold. The camerlengo, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, is responsible for confirming the Pope’s death and sealing the papal apartment with red ribbon and seals. This is a formal step in the process of transitioning to a new pope.
Following the announcement, the dean of the College of Cardinals will gather the members for a funeral mass. Pope Francis made some unconventional decisions during his tenure, including choosing not to be buried beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, as is customary for most popes. Instead, he opted for St. Mary Major Basilica, home to the Salus Populi Romani, an icon of the Virgin Mary that he cherished.
His coffin will first be placed in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing before the funeral, which must occur between four to six days after his death. The period of mourning known as the “novendiali” will follow, lasting for nine days. During this time, cardinals will arrive in Rome to prepare for the conclave, the secret meeting where they will elect the next pope.
The conclave is expected to convene 15 to 20 days after the papacy becomes vacant. While there are currently 252 cardinals, only 135 are eligible to vote because they are under 80 years old. Notably, 108 of these were appointed by Pope Francis himself. The conclave is a highly secretive process, with cardinals taking an oath of secrecy to ensure confidentiality.
Voting will begin in the Sistine Chapel, with ballots being cast until a new pope is elected. If no consensus is reached, the ballots will be burned, producing black smoke to signal that no decision has been made. When a pope is chosen, white smoke will billow from the chimney, and the new pontiff will be introduced to the public with the phrase "Habemus papam," meaning "We have a pope."
As the world reflects on Pope Francis’s legacy, speculation grows about who will succeed him. Candidates may include cardinals like Pietro Parolin, Matteo Zuppi, Marc Ouellet, Christoph Schönborn, and Luis Tagle. The cardinals will consider the current global landscape as they choose a leader who can guide the Church in these changing times.