The death of Pope Francis has triggered a period of mourning in the Vatican and signals the start of a millennia-old process of picking a new pontiff. Source: CNN.
It is a procedure steeped in tradition, but one which has been subtly updated for the modern world.
Cardinals from around the world must gather for the conclave in which Francis’s successor is selected. It typically takes between two and three weeks for a pope to be chosen, though it can stretch beyond that if cardinals struggle to agree on a candidate.
In the interim, Cardinal Kevin Farrell has become the acting head of the Vatican until a new pope is elected. Cardinal Farrell, who was born in Ireland and who became a naturalised American citizen after spending many years ministering in the United States, holds the position of “camerlengo,” or chamberlain.
Cardinal Farrell sealed the Papal Apartment of the Apostolic Palace, the traditional residence of the pope, to mark the beginning of the mourning period about 12 hours after Francis died.
The apartment was not used by Francis, who lived in Casa Santa Marta.
The closure of the Pope’s residence is a symbolic gesture that historically served to prevent looting of the Pope’s residence. It symbolises the formal end of the Francis pontificate.
The “Papal Interregnum” – the period between the death of one pope and the election of another – began when Francis passed away.
Cardinals must now decide when the funeral can take place, and after that, when conclave can begin. But much of the timeline is predetermined; the pope’s death triggered the start of nine days of mourning known as the Novendiales, and the Pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after death.
In the interim, Francis will be placed in a coffin, after which he will lie in state for several days until the funeral.
A Vatican spokesperson said yesterday that Francis’s body could lie in state in St Peter’s Basilica for people to come and pay their respects as soon as Wednesday.
At the end of the period of mourning, a large funeral Mass will take place at St Peter’s.
The conclave to elect a new pope is not expected to begin earlier than 15 days, nor later than 20 days, after the Pope’s death – though it could get underway sooner if all the cardinal electors arrive in Rome quickly.
FULL STORY
What happens next after Francis’ death? How the Catholic Church will pick a successor (By Rob Picheta and Christopher Lamb, CNN)