The Catholic Church is bracing for a period of mourning after Pope Francis’ death. The cardinals will decide when to hold his funeral and then gather in a secret conclave to elect a new pope.
The process between popes, known as the interregnum, begins when the current pope dies. The cardinals will decide on a funeral date, and then they’ll start the conclave. Most of the schedule is already set. The church will observe nine days of mourning, during which Catholics worldwide will pray and pay their respects.
Funeral and Burial
The pope’s body will be taken to St. Peter’s Basilica for the faithful to pay their respects. Masses will be held daily during the mourning period. The body will be buried within four to six days of death, following tradition. In 2005, many Christians lined up to pay their respects to Pope John Paul II after his death.
Conclave to Elect New Pope
Cardinals under 80 will gather in Vatican City for the conclave to choose the next pope. This process usually takes two to three weeks but can take longer if the cardinals can’t agree.
The cardinals will need to reach a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope. The conclave is a secret process, and the cardinals are not allowed to communicate with the outside world during this time. The new pope will be announced with the famous Latin phrase “Habemus Papam,” meaning “We have a pope.”