Vatican: What happens after the Pope’s death?

After the death of Pope Francis, the more than 1.4 billion Catholics are on earth without leadership. The choice of a successor can be made relatively quickly – or take weeks. An overview of how things are going on:

Why does the Pope have no deputy?

According to Catholic canon law, a Pope is fully reserved and his power is indivisible. According to the teaching of faith, he is “deputy of Jesus Christ” on earth and successor to the apostle Peter, who was still used by Jesus.

The word Pope is derived from Greek: “Pappas” means “father”. He is also Bishop of Rome, Primas from Italy and Head of the Vatican, the smallest state in the world. It is often also called Pontifex, literally translated: the bridge builder.

What does Sedisvakanz mean?

This is how the period of time is called the election of the new Pope. The duration cannot be predicted exactly. The term comes from Latin and literally means “empty chair”. A little has been changed on the process over the centuries, but the large lines have been determined.

Death is determined by the Camerlengo, the cardinal treasurer, together with the doctors. In the past, the treasurer gently knocked the lifeless Pope on his forehead three times with a small silver hammer and called his baptismal name. In the absence of the answer, the Pontifex was then declared dead. To date, the Pope is pulled and destroyed the seal ring after his death. The study and private pickers are sealed.

No important decisions may be made in the Vatican during the Sedisvakanz. The ongoing shops are regulated by a college of cardinals. This includes in particular the preparations of the funeral celebrations and the burial as well as the choice of the successor.

What do the funerals look like?

The Cardinal College determines when and how the body must be transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica. There he is laid out so that believers can say goodbye to him. The funerals last nine days.

The burial is usually four to six days after death. It was recently common for the deceased to have their grave in St. Peter’s Basilica. But unlike his predecessors Benedict XVI. from Bavaria and John Paul II from Poland, Francis will probably not find his last rest in St. Peter’s Basilica, but in the basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, one of his favorite places. State and government heads from all over the world are expected to say goodbye.

How is Francis’ successor determined?

At the latest 20 days after death, the cardinals from all over the world, which have not yet exceeded the age of 80, should appear in the Vatican to the so -called conclave. The word comes from Latin: “Cum Clave”, in German: “With the key”.

The choice of the new Pope is strictly shielded in the Sistine chapel, under the famous Michelangelo ceiling frescoes. Any external communication that might have to do with the pope election is prohibited.

The conclave can be over after a few hours, but also weeks, months or even years: there is no time limit. The longest choice started in autumn 1268. It was only after two years, nine months and two days with Gregor X. there was a new Pope. In the meantime, however, it is usually quite quick: Francis was chosen in 2013 after a little more than 26 hours and five electoral groups. His predecessor Benedict XVI. Started in 2005 after four rounds.

How does the conclave come together?

All cardinals that are not yet 80 years old are entitled to vote – according to the Pope the highest dignitaries in the church. The most of the cardinals of voting today were appointed by Francis. Some were also from Benedict XVI. and John Paul II. The largest group comes from Europe. Francis in particular made sure that other world regions are much more represented than before.

Germany is currently with three cardinals: the former Benedict confidant Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Reinhard Marx, and the archbishop of Cologne, Rainer Maria Woelki.

What happens in the conclave?

To choose from, the new Pope needs a two -thirds majority. The first ballot in the Sistine chapel takes place at the beginning of the first afternoon. The further rhythm on the following days then consists of two electoral groups in the morning and two elections in the afternoon.

On the ballot paper, every cardinal writes “as possible in an adjusted but clear writing” under the sentence “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (“I choose the top bridge builder”) and throws it into the ballot box. The count is then that the names are read and made of line lists. Then all the slip handed are threaded on a string and burned.

There are two cast iron stoves in the Sistine chapel. The ballot papers come in the older of the two stoves, which has been in use since 1939. In the other, which was first used in Benedict in 2005 in 2005, black or white smoke is generated with the help of chemicals. The deductions both result in the same chimney, which can be seen on the roof of the Sistine chapel.

If none of the candidates have reached the required majority, black smoke rises. White smoke means: we have a new Pope. Sometimes you don’t see the color exactly at first.

If the conclave drag on longer, rest days can be inserted so that the cardinals have time for prayers, thinking and conversations. The whole thing can also develop into a poker for power. After a little more than 30 unsuccessful elections, a runoff election between the two candidates with the most votes is possible.

What’s next after the election?

If the required majority is reached, the victorious candidate is asked whether he accepts the election. This is actually a matter of form, but supposedly hesitated, for example, Benedict XVI. but. When the chosen cardinal says yes, he is the new head of the Roman Catholic Church-and remains until he dies or, which almost never occurs, resigns. The conclave is over. Outside, the bells are also ringing for white smoke.

Shortly afterwards, the loggia of the pars’ cathedral of the whole world announces: “Habemus Papam” (“We have a Pope”). On this occasion it is also announced which name the new Pope has chosen. From the loggia, he himself grants the apostolic blessing “Urbi et orbi” (“the city and the earth”). From the waiting crowd, there is always great cheering.