Pope Francis dies: what happens next
21 April 11:09
Pope Francis has died in the Vatican. He was 88 years old. This was reported in the Vatican with reference to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
According to him, the Pope died at 7:35 am.
“His whole life was devoted to serving the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With infinite gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the Triune God,” the cardinal said.
It should be noted that the 88-year-old pontiff, on the advice of doctors, did not lead the traditional Easter Mass in the Vatican, but appeared at the end of the event with a message known as “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”), which was read on his behalf by Cardinal Angelo Comastri.
In his Easter message, the pontiff mentioned Ukraine, “devastated by war,” calling for peace and encouraging the parties to the conflict to work toward a just and lasting peace.
As a reminder, Francis was hospitalized on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection, which led to the most serious deterioration in his health in the 12 years of his papacy.
Who is Pope Francis?
Pope Francis, born in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, became the first Jesuit pope and the first Latin American to occupy the throne of St. Peter. His pontificate began in 2013, after the resignation of Benedict XVI. Francis has gone down in history as a spiritual leader who has emphasized social justice, protection of the poor, and the environment.
What happens after the Pope’s death?
After the death of the Pope, the Vatican enters a period of sede vacante, when the College of Cardinals takes over the governance of the Church. Traditionally, this period lasts 15-20 days, during which the cardinals prepare for a conclave – a secret vote to elect a new pope. Here are the main stages:
- Official confirmation of the Pope’s death
The Cardinal-Camerlengo, currently Kevin Farrell, officially confirms the Pope’s death by reciting his baptismal name three times (in the case of Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio). The Fisherman’s Ring, a symbol of papal power, is then destroyed. - Funeral arrangements
The funeral of Pope Francis will take place 4-6 days after his death, most likely in St. Peter’s Square. At Francis’s request, he will be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, which is a deviation from the tradition of burial in St. Peter’s Basilica. - Preparations for the conclave
Cardinals from all over the world are gathering in the Vatican for the so-called general congregations, meetings to discuss the needs of the Church and the challenges the new pope will face. These meetings also include organizational issues, such as preparing the Sistine Chapel for the vote.
What happens next: how is a new pope elected?
The death of the current pope triggers the procedure of a conclave, a meeting of cardinals that convenes to elect a new pope.
Stage 1: The period of mourning (interregnum)
For the next 9 days, the official mourning period, known as novemdiales, will last. The Church prays for the soul of the deceased pontiff. During this period, no strategic decisions are made about the Church.
Stage 2: Convocation of the conclave
After the mourning period is over, up to 120 cardinals under the age of 80 will gather in the Vatican for a secret vote. They will be locked in the Sistine Chapel – this is what a conclave is(cum clave, i.e., “under key”).
How does a conclave work?
The conclave is one of the most mysterious and ancient rituals of the Catholic Church, dating back to the 13th century. It is governed by the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici gregis (1996), issued by Pope John Paul II and amended by Benedict XVI. Here is how the process works:
1. Who participates in the conclave?
Cardinal-electors under the age of 80 participate in the conclave. As of April 2025, there are 135 such cardinals out of a total of 252. Most of them (about 80%) were appointed by Pope Francis, which may influence the choice of his successor. Cardinals over the age of 80 can be elected by the Pope, but do not have the right to vote.
Theoretically, any baptized male Catholic can become Pope, but since 1378, only cardinals have been elected.
2. Venue
The conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican, where cardinals are isolated from the outside world. Before the start, the room is checked for listening devices to ensure complete secrecy. The cardinals take an oath of secrecy, the violation of which is punishable by excommunication.
3. The voting process
- Voting takes place four times a day: two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
- To be elected pope, a candidate must receive two-thirds of the votes (approximately 90 votes out of 135 electors).
- After each vote, the ballots are burned. If the pope is not elected, chemicals are added to create black smoke, which signals a tie. When the pope is elected, the smoke turns white, a sign to the world that a new pontiff has been elected.
- The process continues until the required majority is reached, usually from a few days to a week. The longest period between popes lasted two years (1268-1271), but modern conclaves rarely last more than a few days.
4. Announcement of the new pope
When a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote, the Dean of the College of Cardinals (now Giovanni Battista Re) asks if he accepts the election. If he does, the new pope chooses a papal name and puts on the papal vestments. Then the Cardinal Protodeacon (now Dominic Mamberi) announces from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: Habemus Papam! The new Pope blesses the faithful and the whole world.
Who can be elected Pope?
Any baptized Catholic man can become pope, but in practice it is always a cardinal.
Why is this important for the world?
The election of a new pope is important not only for Catholics but also for the global community. The Pope is not only a spiritual leader, but also the head of the Vatican state, which maintains diplomatic relations with other countries.
His position affects issues of peace, climate change, migration, and interreligious dialogue. In times of geopolitical instability, such as the wars in Ukraine or the Middle East, the choice of a new pope can determine the direction of the Catholic Church for decades to come.
