An era has come to an end. Pope Francis, aged 88, has passed away after being the head of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 long years. His demise comes after spending 38 days being treated for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital before seeming to recover and leaving the facility on March 23.
“Dearest brothers and sisters, it is with deep sorrow that I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell in the statement published by the Vatican on its Telegram channel. “This morning at 7:35 am, local time, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His church.”
The Argentine pontiff’s demise has resulted in leaders — from every corner of the world — paying their respects and mourning the loss of the Roman Catholic Church’s head.
It has also kicked off a tightly choreographed series of events, refined over centuries and hundreds of dead popes. It will culminate with the selection of a new Catholic church leader, who will be elected in a ‘conclave’.
Pope Francis’ death and destruction of ring
Traditionally, the news of a Pope’s dying is announced by a camerlengo (a senior Vatican official). In Pope Francis’ case, the death was announced by Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell. He also now assumes the role of the Vatican’s de facto administrator.
There’s a myth that states the camerlengo announces the pope’s demise after gently tapping his head with a silver hammer. The Church, however, has denied this practice completely.
Tradition states that the camerlengo only announces the pope’s demise after he calls out the pontiff’s name to rouse him. When the pontiff does not respond, he is declared dead — this process is now ceremonial as doctors will have confirmed the pontiff’s death through more standard medical means.
Once formally declared dead, the camerlengo arranges for the destruction of the Ring of the Fisherman, which is used by the pope to seal official documents.
Exactly how it gets destroyed today is caught up in mythology, but the outcome is it’s defaced, so it can’t be used. “It used to be done with a chisel and a hammer. In some movies, they show you, they crack it totally; in others, they just put a line through it,” Darius von Guttner, a historian at Australian Catholic University, was quoted as telling Sydney Morning Herald. “The moment it is destroyed and cannot be used again, that means the authority of the pope is finished.”
Mourning period is triggered
Once Pope Francis’ demise is confirmed, the Vatican also announces a nine-day mourning period known as the Novendiale.
In this period, the Vatican moves his body to his private chapel where his the body will be dressed in a white cassock and laid in a zinc-lined wooden coffin. This marks a break from tradition — previous pontiffs were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead and oak. However, Pope Francis had in 2024, made changes to the funeral procedures, demanding for more austere rituals.
Also, Pope Francis’ body will not be placed on a raised platform — known as a catafalque — in St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. Mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body remains inside the coffin, with the lid removed.
A report by Politico states that historically, popes were embalmed and some of them had their organs removed prior to burial. A church near the Trevi Fountain in Rome holds the hearts of more than 20 popes in marble urns, preserved as holy relics — but these practices have fallen out of favour.
The pope’s burial
The funeral for Pope Francis will take place four to six days after his death with different funeral rites being held in various churches across Rome spanning nine days.
The funeral Mass is still expected to be held in St Peter’s Square, but unlike many predecessors, Francis asked to be buried in Rome’s St Mary Major Basilica to be near his favourite icon of the Madonna.
The conclave
In the aftermath of Pope Francis’ demise, the cardinals from around the world will congregate in the Sistine Chapel to hold a conclave, the highly secretive process of electing a new pope. This will occur within 15 to 20 days of the pope’s death.
At the conclave, the cardinal electors will take an oath of secrecy and then vote for the next pontiff. This process is highly political with likely successors vying for the top position.
Only cardinals under age 80 are eligible to vote. A two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new pope. If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority, another round of voting takes place. There can be up to four rounds per day. The conclave that elected Pope Francis in 2013 took about 24 hours and five ballots, but the process can run longer; a conclave in the 13th century took about three years, while another in the 18th century took four months.
Once a new pope is elected, white smoke is released from a chimney that can be seen from St. Peter’s Square.
Announcement of a new pope
After the election of a new pope, he is formally asked if he accepts his role. If he agrees, he must select a papal name, which is often inspired by past saints.
Following this, a representative from the College of Cardinals reads out the Latin announcement Habemus papam, meaning “We have a pope,” from the main balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
