After Pope Francis: What Happens Next in the Vatican?
Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, marking the end of a transformative 12-year tenure as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. His death initiates a time-honored process to elect his successor, a crucial event for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
The Pope not only leads the Catholic Church, but is also viewed as a direct representative of Jesus Christ, carrying forward a legacy believed to link back to St. Peter, one of Christ's original apostles. This gives the Pope significant power over Church doctrine and practices. While Roman Catholics often consult the Bible for guidance, the teachings of the Pope play a vital role in shaping the Church's beliefs.
As we turn our eyes towards the Vatican, where the Pope resided in the smallest independent state in the world, attention will also be paid to the funeral arrangements. Pope Francis had previously indicated a desire for a less elaborate ceremony, opting for a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc rather than the traditional nested coffins. He will also be the first Pope in over a century to be buried outside of the Vatican walls, specifically at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, a significant location that highlights his unique approach to papal traditions.
In the wake of his passing, the responsibility to select a new Pope falls to the College of Cardinals, an assembly of senior Church officials appointed by the Pope himself. Currently, there are 252 cardinals, of which 138 are eligible to vote in the upcoming election.
The election, known as the conclave, is marked by secrecy and tradition. Following the Pope's death, cardinals convene to govern the Church until a new leader is elected. They will gather in the iconic Sistine Chapel, where individual votes will be cast until a consensus is reached. Notably, the process of selecting a new Pope can take days and has historically stretched to weeks or months, with the outcome indicated by the color of smoke rising from the chapel: black indicating a failed election, and white announcing the selection of a new Pope.
Once a new Pope is elected, the senior cardinal will reveal the decision to the world from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, proclaiming 'Habemus Papam,' or 'We have a Pope.' The newly elected Pope may select a papal name that honors a saint or carries personal significance, as seen with Pope Francis, who was originally named Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
In theory, any baptized Roman Catholic man may be considered for the papacy, but in practice, the cardinals tend to choose one among their own ranks. The election of Pope Francis in 2013, who was the first pontiff from South America, reflected a shift, but historical patterns suggest that European candidates, particularly Italians, are often favored. Out of the 266 popes in history, 217 have hailed from Italy.
As the Catholic Church prepares to embark on the next chapter without Pope Francis, the world watches closely, awaiting the emergence of a new leader to guide the faithful through contemporary challenges and towards spiritual growth.
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