A Beginners Guide: What Happens Now That Pope Francis Has Died?

The Guy
Apr 23
3 min read

Updated: Apr 28

Quick answer: Over the next three to four weeks the Vatican will hold a state funeral, nine days of official mourning, and a secret ballot inside the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. Here’s the step-by-step version in plain language.

First 72 Hours – Confirming the Death and Securing the Vatican

Who checks? Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the “camerlengo,” officially confirms the Pope’s death.
What does he do? He locks the papal apartment, crushes the Pope’s ring (so no one can fake documents) and puts a temporary wax seal on the offices.

What “Sede Vacante” Really Means

Latin for “the seat is empty.” From this moment until a new pope is chosen, the Catholic Church has no single leader. Routine Vatican business carries on, but no big decisions—like appointing bishops—can be made.

Funeral and Public Farewell

Date	Event	Where
23 Apr 2025	Body moved to St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing	Vatican
26 Apr 2025, 10 a.m.	State funeral led by senior cardinals	St Peter’s Square

Note: Anyone in Rome can file past the coffin during the three days it lies in state.

**Nine Days of Mourning (*Novemdiales***)

From the day after the funeral, cardinals celebrate a memorial Mass every morning for nine straight days. The Church prays, and the gap also gives far-flung cardinals time to get to Rome.

Who Gets to Vote?

Cardinal-electors: Any cardinal under 80 years old on the day the pope died may vote. Today that’s about 135 men.

Why under 80? John Paul II set the age limit so the voters would be active church leaders.

The ***General Congregations*—Pre-Vote Meetings**

Before they lock themselves in, all cardinals (voters and non-voters) meet daily inside Vatican City. They:

Share thoughts on the biggest issues facing the Church.
Decide the exact start date for the election, which must fall 10-15 days after the death. Expect something around 2–6 May

Inside the Conclave—Choosing a Pope

Step	Plain-language explanation
Lock-in	Cardinals march into the Sistine Chapel singing a hymn. A master of ceremonies calls “Extra omnes!” (“Everybody out!”) and the doors are locked.
Voting	Up to four secret ballots a day (two morning, two afternoon). Each writes one name on a paper that begins “I choose as pope…”
Smoke signals	Ballots are burned after each round: black smoke = no decision; white smoke = we have a winner. Bells now ring too, so no one misreads the colour.
Winning number	A two-thirds majority—about 90 votes with the current group—is required.

If no one reaches that mark after roughly three days of voting, the electors pause for prayer and talks, then continue. In the unlikely event they reach 34 rounds, they switch to a run-off between the two frontrunners, but still need two-thirds.

Habemus Papam! — Introducing the New Pope

Once a candidate accepts, he chooses a papal name. Tailored white robes await in three sizes in the “Room of Tears.” Minutes later, the senior cardinal-deacon steps onto the balcony of St Peter’s and announces in Latin: “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a pope!”). The new pontiff then gives his first blessing to the city (Urbi) and the world (Orbi).

Installation Mass and First Decisions

Within a week of his election, the new pope presides over an outdoor Mass, receives a special woollen stole called the pallium and a new Fisherman’s Ring, and soon after begins appointing his top advisers.

Why Non-Catholics May Care

The pope heads not only the world’s 1.37 billion Catholics but also a tiny yet influential sovereign state. His priorities on climate change, migration, poverty or diplomacy can move global conversations—and sometimes entire governments.