The Christian world has plunged into mourning upon receiving the news of passing away of Pope Francis at the age of 88, as confirmed by the Vatican early this morning. This ended a historic and revolutionary papacy.
Cardinal Kevin Ferrell confirmed the passing of Pope Francis, revealing the morbid information at 7:35 AM today. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” Ferrell stated. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.”
The news of Pope Francis’ passing occurred only a day after his Easter Sunday visit to St. Peter’s Square, where he blessed more than 35,000 people. Though the pope had fought pneumonia only a month earlier, he had surprised everyone with a public appearance, blessing and praying for the faithful. His death has placed the world into mourning, yet it also raises significant questions regarding the future of the Church and the process of choosing a new pope.
The Papal Succession Process: How Is a New Pope Chosen?
The death of Pope Francis raises the question: How does a new pope get elected? Electing a new pope is a tightly coordinated and clandestine process involving the College of Cardinals, the top-ranking bishops of the Catholic Church.
The election of a new pope has changed throughout history. Previously, the choice of the next pope was made by popular opinion, both that of the clergy and of the faithful. But this method resulted in controversy, competing claims, and even antipopes—those who had spurious claims to the papacy. In 1059, Pope Nicholas II decreed that the cardinal bishops were to be the electors, diminishing the role of Roman aristocrats and laying the groundwork for the College of Cardinals.
The College of Cardinals now consists of 222 members, 120 of whom can vote. The regulation, revised in 1975, bars cardinals above the age of 80 from voting. Once a pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals comes together for the conclave to vote for a new pope. This conclave is typically summoned 15 to 20 days after the death of the pope, allowing time for cardinals from across the globe to reach the Vatican.
What Happens During the Conclave?
The conclave is a secretive and very organized affair, occurring in the Sistine Chapel. The first day of the conclave starts with a special mass. After the mass, the cardinals swear an oath of secrecy and are then sealed within the chapel to start voting. The phrase “extra omnes” (Latin for “All out”) is called to keep everyone except the cardinals away from the voting process.
After the conclave starts, cardinals have no outside communication—televisions and cell phones are taken away. The cardinals cast their votes in a very secure setting, and their votes are counted by scrutineers to prevent anyone from tampering with the process. The procedure is meant to be equitable, open, and secretive, and there are severe penalties for leaks.
Voting Process: How Does the College of Cardinals Elect a Pope?
While in conclave, the cardinals vote to choose a new pope. If nobody gets the two-thirds majority of votes, more rounds of voting are conducted. Two votes are conducted in the morning and two in the afternoon in each round. If no winner is forthcoming after three days, the cardinals recess to pray and think. If the stalemate persists, a run-off election is conducted between the two candidates who received the most votes.
The election is carried out on a ballot paper in which every cardinal jots down the name of their favorite candidate. The votes are counted after every vote, and the ballots are pierced using a needle, followed by being incinerated in a furnace. Incineration creates smoke, which people outside the Sistine Chapel can see. Black smoke indicates there is no decision made, while white smoke is a sign of a new pope’s election.
What a Pope Does After Being Elected?
After a candidate receives two-thirds of the votes, the master of papal liturgical celebrations asks, “Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?” The candidate, having consented, is then requested to give the papal name they would like to use. The pope-elect is also clothed in white cassocks by the papal tailor.
After the election, the new pope is presented to the world from the St. Peter’s Basilica balcony, where the historic words “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a pope!”) are declared. The new pope then appears in public for the first time and addresses a message of hope and peace to the world’s Catholic community.
What Can We Expect Next?
Following the death of Pope Francis, the world is now waiting for the conclave to start the exercise of electing a new pope. While the faithful are grieving the loss of a leader who preached peace and unity, electing his replacement will be important in shaping the future of the Catholic Church.
The world looks now to the Vatican, expecting the election of a new pope who will guide the Catholic Church through the challenges of the new world. Whether the next pope will follow the path of reform that Pope Francis initiated or create a new direction is yet to be determined.
