When a pope dies there are many things that the Vatican must do before a new pope takes office. The busiest person during this period is the camerlengo , or papal chamberlain. First he confirms the pope’s death and locks the pope’s private apartment. He removes the Ring of the Fisherman, which is a symbol of the pope’s power. The camerlengo also organises a meeting of the cardinals and the election of the new pope.
The dead pope’s body is embalmed and shown to the people in St. Peter’s Basilica. Four to six days after death, the funeral takes place. The pope is buried next to others in a crypt under the main altar of the cathedral.
A camerlengo pronounces the death of a pope
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_conclave#/media/File:Cardinal_Camerlengo_certifying_a_papal_death.JPG,
Public Domain
Only 120 out of 194 cardinals are allowed to vote. Cardinals older than 80 are not allowed to take part in the conclave. In order to elect a new pope a two-thirds majority of the cardinals is needed. Four ballots are held every day—two in the morning and two in the afternoon. If three days pass without a result the cardinals rest for one day. If , after a few days, no pope is elected by a two-thirds majority, the cardinals agree to continue the vote with a simple majority.
College of Cardinals at the funeral of Pope John Paul II
Image: blues_brother, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons/
The ballots are burned after every second vote. If no pope is elected black smoke comes out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. This tells the people waiting outside that the cardinals have not agreed on choosing a pope. When a pope is elected, white smoke signals are released. When one candidate receives enough votes by the cardinals he is asked if he accepts the election. He must also choose a name by which he wants to be called.
After an election the oldest cardinal of the conclave steps to the balcony above St. Peter’s Square and announces “Habemus Papam” which means “We have a new pope”. The new pope then steps out on the balcony and waves to the thousands of Catholics waiting at St. Peter’s Square. He then gives his first blessing to Rome and to the world .
Pope Francis appears to the crowd in St.Peter’s Square
Image: Tenan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The newly elected pope remains the head of the church for his whole life. He can retire before he dies but very few popes have done this before.In 2013, Benedict XVI announced that he was not healthy enough to continue his papacy and stepped down as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Shortly afterwards, Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina became Pope Francis .