When A Pope Dies: 7 Things That Happen

Recently, as you probably know, Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome after a severe bout of bronchitis that led to double pneumonia and a polymicrobial infection. Currently he’s in critical condition. I'll be praying for him in my rosary tonight, and I hope you’ll join me in keeping him in your prayers. With so much buzz online about the possibility of a new pope emerging in the not so distant future, I thought I’d break down, in six quick points, what actually happens when a pope dies and a conclave is called.

Photo by Coronel Gonorrea on Unsplash

1. Sede Vacante and the Camerlengo’s Role

When the pope passes away, the Church enters a phase known as sede vacante—or “the seat being vacant” (and we’ll finally have something in common with Sedevacantists (inside joke. Not funny. Moving on.) Right away, the Camerlengo (currently Kevin Joseph Cardinal Farrell) steps in. His job is to confirm the pope’s death and manage the Vatican’s day-to-day affairs until a new pontiff is elected.

2. Official Announcement and Mourning

Once the pope’s death is confirmed, the Vatican makes a formal announcement to Catholics around the world. This is typically followed by a period of mourning—usually around nine days—giving the faithful time to grieve, pray, and spiritually prepare for the transition.

3. The Gathering of the College of Cardinals

During sede vacante, the College of Cardinals gathers in Rome to deliberate on the future of the Church. According to a quick Google search, there are around 252 cardinals worldwide. However, only those under the age of 80—roughly 120 electors, according to another quick Google search—are eligible to participate in the conclave.

4. The Conclave: Seclusion, Voting, and Symbolism

The new pope is chosen during the conclave, a sequestered setting designed for undistracted, prayerful reflection. The cardinals cast secret ballots over several rounds. You might have seen photos or videos of the Sistine Chapel—the famous smoke signals come from there: black smoke means no decision has been reached yet, and white smoke signals that a new pope has been elected.

5. Divine Guidance: Does God Choose the Pope?

Many wonder if the Holy Spirit directly chooses the pope. In a 1997 interview with German television, then-Cardinal Benedict XVI was asked exactly that. He responded:

"I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the pope. . . . I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined"
(John Allen, The Rise of Benedict XVI, 6).

This shows that while divine guidance plays a role, the process is still very much in human hands.

6. Acceptance of the New Pope

When a candidate secures the necessary two-thirds majority and accepts the role, he picks his papal name and officially takes on the responsibilities of the office. This moment is both a personal milestone for the new pope and a key turning point for the Church.

7. A New Name

When a candidate secures the necessary two-thirds majority and accepts the role, he chooses a new papal name and officially takes on the responsibilities of the office. Often, the name pays tribute to a revered predecessor or reflects the values he plans to bring to his papacy. Pope Francis chose the name because of his desire to “go to the margins” like St Francis of Assisi, for example.

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Again, please keep Pope Francis, the Bishops, and cardinals in your prayers. And I mean that in a concrete way. Fast from something tomorrow, or offer a rosary.

In fact, let’s do it right now:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.