Local and foreign tourists visit the exhibit called "The Papal Visits" at the Blessed Souls Chapel of the Manila Cathedral in Manila on June 30, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

A pope’s death always carries great magnitude.

Not only he is the leader of 1.2 billion Catholics across the world, but the influence that the popes have wielded carried much significance in humanity's history.  

Pope Francis, beloved ‘Lolo Kiko’ to Filipinos, has passed away: Vatican

Once the pontiff is announced dead, it triggers an avalanche of ancient rituals. 

In the case of Pope Francis, he made some adjustments.  

Although the changes were meant to simplify the rituals to emphasize his role as a pastor, it remains a grand display of honor for the man believed to be the Vicar of Christ and a mark of the Church's universality.  

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE POPE'S DEATH 

Two primary documents will be the basis of most of the processes, rituals, and rules during the period called “papal interregnum,” meaning “between the reigns,” that is from one pope to another.  

First is the “Universi Dominici Gregis,” the apostolic constitution containing the details governing the papal interregnum, including the responsibilities of the College of Cardinals and their meetings, the funeral rites of the pope, and all the details concerning the Conclave.  

Next is the “Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis,” the liturgical book for papal funeral rites. A second edition was approved by Pope Francis on April 24, 2024.  

“A second edition became necessary, first of all because Pope Francis has requested it, as he himself has stated on several occasions of the need to simplify and adapt certain rites so that the celebration of the funeral of the Bishop of Rome may better express the faith of the Church in the Risen Christ,” said Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the papal master of ceremonies. 

From the pope’s deathbed, the cardinal camerlango (currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell) calls the pope's baptismal name three times.  

The camerlango, officially named the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, is appointed by the previous pope to administer some functions in the Vatican to ensure that proper institutions are continuing their services. This includes overseeing the planning for the pope's funeral and preparations for the Conclave.  

His powers are limited by the apostolic constitution governing the papal interregnum as the full authority in governing the Catholic Church rests upon the entire College of Cardinals. 

Unlike before, the certification of the pope’s death will now take place at his private chapel instead of the room where he dies.  

Once the pope is confirmed dead, the camerlango will then inform other Church officials, including the cardinal vicar of the Diocese of Rome (currently Cardinal Baldassare Reina), who then makes the announcement to the people of Rome.  

The fisherman’s ring is destroyed, and the papal apartment is sealed.  

With the pope’s death, the Catholic Church enters the period of “sede vacante,” the vacant chair being that of the seat of Saint Peter and his successors.  

THE POPE’S WAKE  

Immediately, the pope’s remains will be placed inside an open coffin instead of a bier, which was used for the funeral of the previous popes, including Benedict XVI and John Paul II.  

This was one of the revisions made by Francis.  

Also, instead of the traditional three layers of coffins — cypress, lead, and oak — the pope will be placed in a simple wooden coffin with a zinc lining.  

The pope's remains will be carried to the Saint Peter’s Basilica for public viewing and will no longer have an exposition at the Apostolic Palace.  

The body will remain inside the open coffin instead of the catafalque.  

He will be dressed in a red chasuble, a simple white mitre, pallium, and his pastoral staff.  

The period when the pope’s body lies in state inside the basilica will be the opportunity for the general public to venerate the deceased pontiff. 

NOVENDIALES AND FUNERAL Catholic faithful pray the rosary for Pope Francis inside the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao in Quezon City on Monday. Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Monday, April 21, after serving 12 years as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

The Catholic Church enters the period of “novendiales” — the nine-day mourning for the deceased pope.  

Holy Masses for the repose of the pope’s soul are celebrated daily by cardinals.  

Usually, between the fourth and sixth day of his death, the pope’s funeral is held.  

The dean of the College of Cardinals (currently Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re) will lead the Funeral Mass and will deliver the homily in front of the gathered cardinals, bishops, priests, monarchs, foreign dignitaries, the people of Rome, and pilgrims from across the world.  

While most popes are buried at the grottoes underneath the Saint Peter’s Basilica, Francis chose to be interred at the Basilica of Santa Maria Magiorre.  

The basilica houses the image of Virgin Mary with the title of “Salus Populi Romani.” Pope Francis made it a habit to venerate the Byzantine icon of Mary holding the Child Jesus before and after his apostolic journeys.  

It was over three centuries ago since a pope was buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Magiorre.  

CONCLAVE 

Conclave, the closed-door election of the next pontiff, must take place not earlier than 15 days upon the previous pope's death.  

When Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, he revised this rule to allow for earlier voting if all the cardinal electors are already present in Rome.  

The German pope made this adjustment since there was no papal funeral and the Church was not in mourning.  

The cardinal-electors are cardinals who are under 80 years of age on the day of the conclave. Other cardinals, however, are allowed to attend the pre-conclave meetings.  

In the morning of the start of the conclave, all the cardinals will gather at Saint Peter’s Basilica for the “Missa Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” (Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff), which will be presided by the dean of the College of Cardinals.  

It was in the same Holy Mass in 2005 that then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, at the time the dean of the cardinals, delivered his famous speech where he blasted what he called the "dictatorship of relativism."  

The cardinals, wearing their choir dress, will then gather inside the Pauline Chapel in the afternoon before marching toward the Sistine Chapel while chanting the Litany of Saints.  

Before Michaelangelo’s famous frescoes depicting the “Last Judgment,” each cardinal elector takes their oath to follow the rules of the conclave.  

After more prayers, the master of papal ceremonies utters the famous words, “extra omnes,” Latin for “everybody out.”  

Cardinals are barred from any form of outside communication during conclave.  

There will be four rounds of voting everyday until a candidate receives two-thirds of the votes.  

The candidate is asked if he accepts the election. If he accepts, he immediately becomes the pope.  

The ballots are burned with the necessary chemicals either to create a black smoke (fumata negra), if the voting is unsuccessful, or white smoke (fumata blanca), if a pope is finally elected.  

The protodeacon, the most senior cardinal deacon (at present Cardinal Dominique Mamberti), will then come out at the central loggia of the Saint Peter’s Basilica to announce the famous words, “Habemus Papam” (We have a pope).  

The new pope is introduced before imparting his first apostolic blessing “Urbi et Orbi” — to the City of Rome and to the world. 

RELATED VIDEO: