How will his successor be elected? | EUROtoday

On Apr 21, 2025

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LAt the time vacant sede started. The Pope died this Monday, April 21, 2025, on the age of 88, after a number of weeks when his well being had deteriorated. Now opens the emptiness of the apostolic seat, which is able to finish when his successor has been elected. The totally different levels till the announcement of the brand new Sovereign Pontiff obeyed very particular guidelines, every process being meticulously resolved.

The official announcement of his demise

His demise is first famous by the one known as Camerlingue (at present Cardinal Kevin Farrell). Derived from the Italian phrase “Camera” (the Chamber), it’s appointed by the Pope particularly to manage the products and the temporal rights of the Holy See, between the demise of the sovereign and the appearance of his successor. He knowledgeable the dean of the Cardinals College.

The latter, at present Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, is elected by his friends, on which they don’t have any energy of presidency. It is to him that the mission then returns to tell the diplomatic corps, the heads of state, in addition to to summon the cardinals of the entire world.

NOVEMDIALS

Pontifical funerals final 9 days, and subsequently bear the title of November. Gathered within the congregation, the cardinals repair the day of the switch to the Saint-Pierre basilica and set up the funeral. This funeral service typically takes place as follows: publicity of the pope’s physique, procession to the Saint-Pierre basilica of Rome, deposition within the Cypress coffin and closure of the coffin, funeral mass, descent into the crypt of the basilica and put within the zinc coffin, then that of wooden and burial (between the fourth and sixth day after the demise of the Pope).

Historically, many popes have been buried within the Vatican caves, together with Benoît XVI. Pope Francis had already stated that he want to have extra sober funeral: he can be buried in a single coffin, product of wooden and zinc, and can relaxation within the Sainte-Marie-Majeure basilica of Rome.

The conclave

Many folks have found the group of a conclave with the movie by Edward Berger, launched in 2024. Unless the Cardinals College decides in any other case, the Apostolic Constitution fixes the beginning of the conclave between the fifteenth and the 20 th day after the Pope’s demise.

On the date fastened, the cardinals voters go in procession to the Sistine Chapel. The etymology of the conclave (cum clavislocked) is chosen on function: the cardinals are certainly locked within the constructing, with the intention to keep away from any distraction of the skin world. For the primary day of the conclave, just one poll is deliberate. There is not any public electoral marketing campaign; Discussions stay confidential and prayer imprints.

To be elected, a Pope should accumulate two thirds of the votes of the cardinals voters (beneath 80 years), 120 in quantity. If the primary vote doesn’t instantly result in the election, the three days that can be capable of rely as much as two ballots per half-days. If on the finish of those 4 days, no title has all the time been indifferent, the voting operations are suspended for a day dedicated to prayer and exchanges.

The vote resumes the subsequent day, for a collection of seven elections to the utmost, unfold over two days. This sequence could be repeated twice. An designated cardinal leads the meditations throughout lately of prayer and reflection, typically beneath the coordination of the dean. If, on the thirteenth day of the conclave (34 ballots, all the identical), a pope has nonetheless not been designated, the Constitution plans to speed up issues.

By two features: the power to elect the pope with an absolute majority and that of limiting the selection to the 2 names having obtained the best variety of votes throughout the earlier poll. Thus, the length of the conclave typically doesn’t exceed the fortnight. Even if, within the historical past of the papacy, he remained exceptions: Grégoire X was elected after a interval of vacant sede of 1,006 days exactly, between December 1268 and September 1271.

White smoke

To uncover

The kangaroo of the day

Answer

For a number of days, the eyes have been fastened on the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. The cardinals’ voting bulletins are burned there. If black smoke comes out, that implies that the cardinals haven’t been capable of agree. But as quickly as white smoke escapes from the chimney, it’s a signal {that a} new pope has been designated. The election is accompanied by the bells of the Saint-Pierre basilica, which sounds to verify the announcement of a brand new pontiff sovereign.

“Habemus Papam,” stated Cardinal Protodiacre, to whom he returns to announce to the world the election of the brand new pope and his title of reign, from the balcony of the Saint-Pierre basilica. And the elected pope places on his white cassock, then appeared on the balcony for his first speech. The Catholic Church thus welcomes its new non secular chief.

https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/mort-du-pape-francois-comment-sera-elu-son-successeur-21-04-2025-2587811_23.php