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April 22, 2025 | 04:43 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The passing of Pope Francis has sent waves of grief across the globe, bringing about a somber atmosphere in every corner of society. After a longstanding health battle throughout his 12 years of papacy, the Vatican announced the pope’s death on Easter Monday, marking a grim moment in modern Church history.
With Pope Francis’s life coming to an end due to irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse, the See of Rome now enters a period known as sede vacante. This centuries-old period comes hand-in-hand with a series of sacred traditions and protocols as the Church prepares to elect its next leader.
What Happens during Sede Vacante?
Sede vacante, translated into empty seat, refers to the period when the papal seat is left unoccupied due to the death or resignation of a pope, according to Britannica.
Long before a pope’s passing or resignation, the camerlengo is already appointed, entrusted with overseeing sacred traditions and logistical preparations that pave the way for the papal conclave. Citing Catholic News Agency, Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell was chosen in 2019 to replace Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran following his death.
As the camerlengo during sede vacante, Cardinal Farrell is assisted by three other cardinals to fulfill responsibilities upon the Church until the next elected pope is assigned.
Though the camerlengo will act as the effective chief executor of the Church, The Pillar Catholic emphasized that the previous popes’ decisions remain legitimate. The College of Cardinals, by no means, has jurisdiction to make changes despite exercising necessary governance.
The appointed camerlengo—Cardinal Farell, however, has the power to decide who can photograph the pope’s body after his passing.
What Tasks Does the Camerlengo Have?
During sede vacante, the camerlengo is tasked with “a specific series of functions in the crucial time of transition from one pope to his successor.” These include declaring the Pope’s death and breaking his Ring of the Fisherman.
Cardinal Farrell’s first solemn duty was to deliver a formal proclamation to the people of Rome, announcing the death of the pope. This declaration must be made in the presence of key figures from the Vatican hierarchy, including the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, senior clerics of the Apostolic Camera, and both the secretary and chancellor of the same body.
Following the announcement, the camerlengo performs one of the most symbolic acts of the interregnum: the ceremonial destruction of the Ring of the Fisherman, the very emblem of the pope’s authority. This sacred rite signifies the end of the late pontiff’s reign and nullifies his seal, ensuring it can no longer be used.
The camerlengo will then seal the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, along with the late pope’s study—to safeguard his personal papers—and bedroom. Once the sacred rite is complete, the papal apartment is closed and remains off-limits to all until the pope is laid to rest.
In the case of Pope Francis, Cardinal Farrell not only has to seal the papal apartments, which have been unused, but also the pope’s chosen residence during his reign at Domus Sanctae Marthae.
Within 20 days of the pope’s passing, the camerlengo holds the authority to summon the College of Cardinals, calling them to assemble for the sacred task of electing the next pope in the conclave.
As the Church steps into this solemn period of mourning and sacred tradition, the eyes of the world turn toward Rome with quiet reverence. Sede vacante is more than just a transitional phase, but it is also a profound reflection of the papacy’s enduring legacy and the timeless rituals that have shaped the heart of the Catholic faith for centuries.
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