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| Death of the Pope | ||
| The World Mourns | ||
| The Funeral | ||
| The Burial | ||
| The Cardinals Gather | ||
| The Voting | ||
| Presentation of the New Pope | ||
| Later | ||
| Interesting Facts | ||
| Vatican Vocabulary List | ||
| Links | ||
Election of a New Pope |
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| Death of the Pope It is announced in Latin that the pope is dead and is certified by a physician. The camerlengo (appointed official) then calls out the pontiff's baptismal name, "Karol" for Pope John Paul II, three times in a ritual to confirm there is no response. The camerlengo then destroys the symbols of that papacy: the "Pescatorio," or Ring of the Fisherman, and the dies used to make lead seals for apostolic letters. The pope's quarters are sealed and funeral arrangements are begun by the camerlengo, the most important Vatican official until a new pope is elected. Spanish Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, 78, has been the camerlengo since 1993. Vatican flags fly at half-staff. According to tradition, the Bronze Door at St. Peter's Basilica is closed. The pope's body is protected by a Swiss guard. 
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| The World Mourns Novemdiales is the official nine day mourning period. The "Cardinal Camerlengo" directs the affairs of the Church until the new Pope is elected. There can be no move in diplomatic relations involving the Holy See until the election of the new Pope. The world is in mourning and many of its buildings are draped in black. Many choose to lower their flags to half-staff.
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| The Funeral The funeral and burial must be held between the fourth and sixth day after death except for unspecified "special reasons," according to rules established in 1996. Weather permitting, it will be held in St. Peter's Square. Many of the world's leaders and other dignitaries are expected to attend. Also on hand will be many of the Cardinals, who will select the new pope. During one part of the Mass, the ceremonial Swiss Guards, who wear distinctive purple, gold and red uniforms, kneel and dip their halberds with their right hand and salute with their left
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| The Burial Most popes in recent centuries have chosen to be buried beneath St. Peter's Basilica. After the funeral, their lead-lined coffins - which can weigh close to a half ton - were carried through the "door of death" on the left side of the main altar in the basilica. A single bell is tolled. The coffin is lowered into a marble sarcophagus and covered by a huge stone slab.
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| The Cardinals Gather "Conclave," from the Latin "with a key," refers to the tradition of locking the doors until the cardinals decide on a successor. The only purpose of a conclave is to elect the pope. This is done in strict secrecy and security. The penalty for disclosing any secrets of the conclave is automatic excommunication. The College of Cardinals Electors gather in Rome as soon as they hear of the pope's death. The body of the pope lies in state for three days in St. Peter's Basilica in the Clementine Chapel, (which was begun by Michelangelo and completed by Giacomo Della Porta for the Jubilee in 1600) and is exposed for the veneration and prayers of the faithful. The coffin is taken for burial in the crypt of the basilica. For the following nine days of mourning, known as Novemdiales, there is a daily solemn Mass at St. Peter's. The election process must begin precisely 15 to 20 days after the Pope's death. Cardinal Electors must be under the age of 80. The maximum number of Cardinal Electors allowed at any one time is 120. The Pope cannot raise more than 120 men under age 80 to the cardinalate) at any one time. The Cardinals gather in a conclave, locked away from the outside. Each has his own cell to live in and one personal attendant for the duration of the decision making process. A cardinal is not supposed to vote for himself. The normal procedure for election is by ballot in which two-thirds of all possible votes is required for election. No electronic devices are allowed. Phones are disconnected.
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| The Voting Each Cardinal is given several blank paper ballots with the latin words "Eligo in summum Pontificem," meaning "I elect as Supreme Pontiff . . ." The Cardinals write in their choice to be elected on the bottom of the ballot. The Cardinals are each called individually to the altar based on seniority, and place their ballot on the paten, which is tipped into a chalice. The actual balloting takes place in the Sistine Chapel. Secret ballots are counted and each Cardinal will mark his record of the voting as the names are called out. An assistant will then bind the ballots together with a needle and thread. If two-thirds of a vote is not reached, the ballots are cast aside and a second ballot takes place immediately. If this does not reach a two-thirds vote, both sets of ballots are gathered and mixed with straw or a chemical and burned in a stove at the end of the chapel, which has a pipe leading directly up to the roof. The resulting black smoke indicates that no decision has been reached. There are four votes each day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon and the process of burning takes place twice each day. If no decision is reached after three days, the cardinals will pause for a day of prayer followed by more voting and a day of prayer until a two-thirds majority is reached. Once in the conclave, the Cardinals are free to discuss choices, and try to sway other Cardinals. Although traditionally a Cardinal is elected to become Supreme Pontiff, any baptized man can be elected including a priest, layman, or a married man. When a two-thirds decision has been reached, the ballots are burned (without straw or chemical), sending white smoke up the chimney to signal the successful election of a new pope.
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| Presentation of the New Pope The Dean of the College of Cardinals asks the person who has been elected if he will accept the position. If so, he becomes Pope at that moment and states the name he wishes to be called as pope. The newly elected Pope dresses in the white cassock, white stockings and puts on the red slippers, each embroidered with a golden cross and returns to the throne. There, the Cardinals advance by seniority and kiss his hand and kneel before him. The Ring of the Fisherman is placed upon his finger. It will be engraved with his name and will not be worn again. It is a seal-ring which is symbolic now, but used to be used to seal important documents. In the great square of St. Peter's, the senior Cardinal Deacon appears on the balcony to announce to the City and the world the name of the new Pope. "Habemus papam" -- "We have a pope." The Cardinal Deacon continues: "I announce to you a great joy. we have a Pope. The most eminent and reverend Lord, the Lord______, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, who takes to himself the name_____." One of the few things Pope John Paul I managed to do in his short one-month papacy was to abolish the traditional Papal Coronation, which Pope John Paul II did not resurrect. Traditionally, the Pope would be carried around St Peter's Square on the Sedia Gestatoria (the Papal Throne) and have the Papal Tiara placed on his head. These last two popes have done away with the monarchic symbolism of the papacy (including the use of the Royal "we") in favor of a heightened concentration of their role as "Servus Servorum Dei" -- Servant of the servants of God.
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| Later About a week after his election, before the cardinals return home, the new pope will celebrate his installation Mass inside St. Peter's at which time the white woolen pallium is bestowed upon him. The new pope will also take possession of his cathedral, St. John Lateran, as bishop of Rome.
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Interesting Facts |
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| Vatican Vocabulary List la biretta - a cap worn by Roman Catholic clergy il carmerlengo - chamberlain; cardinal who manages the pope's secular affairs conclave - from the Latin, "with a key." Refers to the tradition of locking the doors until the cardinals decide on a successor interregnum - the period between a pope's death or resignation and the election of his successor habemus papam - announcement to the world after the election "We have a pope." halberds - ceremonial pole arm, pick axe novemdiales - Official nine day mourning period ogni morte di papa - once in a blue moon. Literally: at every death of a pope pallium - white woolen woven band encircling the shoulder, and having two tails before and two behind worn by the pope i papabili - those seen as contenders to become pope pescatorio - Ring of the Fisherman; pope's official ring la curia romana - the papal court, comprising judicial and administrative bodies la Santa Sede - the Holy See sede vacante - empty Holy See seat sedia gestatoria - the papal throne sfumata - thick smoke; black smoke indicating no successful election i vaticanisti - Vatican specialists lo zucchetto - papal skullcap Above from multiple sources including Catholic Pages.com (Click for more info)
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Links
Election of the Pope
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