On Easter Monday, it was announced by the College of Cardinals that Pope Francis, who had held the position since 2013 and was 88 years old, had passed away. His death marks the end of his reign as leader of the Catholic Church and head of state of the Vatican City, but what happens next?
Now that the mourning period has begun, the Pope’s funeral and the conclave to select a successor are in the works, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about what happens after the Pope dies, as well as how you can view the late Pope Francis’s open casket to pay your respects. Read on for all the information.
Recommended: Visiting Rome and the Vatican during Pope Francis’s funeral preparations: what travellers need to know.
What happens after the Pope dies?
After the passing of a pope, a series of events, which have been refined over centuries begin (some even date back to ancient Rome), and it starts with confirming the Pope’s death.
While this is now more of a ceremony as doctors will have carried out all necessary tests, it’s tradition for the ‘camerlengo’ (a senior Vatican official, a position currently held by Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell) to visit the resting Pope in his chapel and to call out his name to rouse him. When this fails, the Pope’s signet ring (a seal for official papal documents) is destroyed, to signify the end of his reign.
The College of Cardinals are notified, and then the news is shared publicly, which launches nine days of mourning known as the ‘novendiale’. The Pope’s body is then moved to St Peter’s Basilica so members of the public can queue and pay their respects.
The Pope’s funeral will be held on Saturday April 26, likely led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re. After that, Pope Francis will be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of his favourite and most frequented churches.
A couple of weeks after the Pope’s funeral is when the secretive election process of a new pope begins, and it’s known as a conclave. The College of Cardinals convenes in the Sistine Chapel, and it is one of these men who will become the next pope. A candidate must receive a two-thirds majority, and it’s only those under the age of 80 who are eligible to vote.
When and where to see the Pope’s open casket
Pope Francis’s body will lie in an open casket in St Peter’s Basilica from tomorrow morning (Wednesday April 23), after being transferred in a procession at 9am local time. It will remain there until the funeral takes place on Saturday, April 26.
Public viewing hours and access information
Members of the general public will be able to visit the Pope’s casket in St Peter’s Basilica from 11am to midnight on Wednesday, 7am to midnight on Thursday and 7am to 7pm on Friday.
What to expect from the public viewing
In the past, according to Politico, the Pope’s body has been displayed on a raised platform called a catafalque, and they have historically been buried in three coffins (each inside of the other), made of cypress, zinc and elm. Francis has opted for less pageantry, and keen to not present as a ‘person of power’, will be on display at ground level, laid to rest in a wood and zinc coffin.
Safety tips for visitors paying their respects
Given that Rome is already busier than usual because of the city’s Jubilee, it’s likely that the streets around St Peter’s Basilica will be crowded, and there could even be added security in the area.
Because of these crowds, it’s likely petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching will also be on the rise. To read more about what you need to know if you’re headed to Rome right now, check out our guide here.
Will the funeral be shown online?
The funeral will be shown online, via the Vatican Media YouTube page and on its own website. Major news orgs including the BBC and Sky News will also live-broadcast the event. Official details such as times and streaming links have not yet been released. We will update this page with new information as it comes.
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