Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, after serving 12 years as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. His death has set in motion the process of electing a new pope, in a traditional procedure that has continued for centuries, according to the BBC.
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Pope Francis had been suffering from respiratory issues in recent months, which required him to remain under constant medical supervision for more than 35 days.
He returned to the Vatican at the end of March after facing the most serious health crisis since assuming the papacy 12 years ago. In a surprise appearance on Sunday, he greeted thousands gathered to celebrate Easter.
The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and resides in Vatican City — the world's smallest independent state — which is surrounded by the Italian capital, Rome. He does not receive a salary, but the Vatican covers all his travel and living expenses.
Changing the Funeral Rituals
Papal funerals have traditionally been elaborate events, but Pope Francis recently approved plans to simplify the entire process. His predecessors were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress wood, lead, and oak. In contrast, Pope Francis opted for a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc, according to the BBC.
Francis also abolished the tradition of placing the Pope’s body on a raised platform inside St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing. Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body remains in the coffin with the lid removed.
Francis will also be the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. He will be laid to rest at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome.
Who Chooses the New Pope?
The new pope must be chosen by senior officials in the Catholic Church, known as the College of Cardinals. All of them are men, appointed directly by the Pope, and are usually bishops.
Currently, there are 252 Catholic cardinals, 138 of whom are eligible to vote for the new pope. The others, being over 80 years old, are not allowed to vote but can still participate in discussions about the choice.
The Successor to Pope Francis
When a pope dies or resigns (as in the rare case of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013), the cardinals are called to the Vatican for a meeting, followed by the conclave — the name given to the papal election.
During the period between the Pope’s death and the election of his successor, the College of Cardinals governs the Church. The election is held in absolute secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel, famously painted by Michelangelo.
Cardinals cast their votes individually for their preferred candidate until one is chosen. The process can take several days. In earlier centuries, it could last weeks or even months, with some cardinals even dying during the sessions.
The only public sign of the election process is the smoke that rises twice daily from the burning of the cardinals’ ballots: black smoke signals no result, while white smoke indicates that a new pope has been chosen.
Announcing the New Pope
After the white smoke appears, the new pope typically emerges within an hour on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. Senior cardinals announce the decision with the Latin phrase “Habemus Papam”, meaning “We have a pope.”
The cardinals then present the new pope by his chosen papal name, which may or may not be his original name. For instance, Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio but chose a different name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Who Can Become Pope?
In theory, any baptized Roman Catholic man is eligible for election as pope. However, in practice, the cardinals almost always choose one of their own.
When Pope Francis, originally from Argentina, was elected in the 2013 conclave, he became the first pope ever from South America — a region that represents about 28% of the world’s Catholics. Of the 266 popes elected throughout history, 217 have been Italian.
