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By Dan Cody
Digital Media Reporter
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Pope Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas and a transformative figure in the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced Monday. His papacy, marked by reform, humility, and at times controversy, has now given way to a solemn period of mourning and transition within the Holy See.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis rose from modest beginnings to become the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Revered by many as a reformer but criticized by others for challenging church orthodoxy, his death marks the end of an era—and the beginning of one of the most secretive and ritual-bound processes in global religious life.
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President Donald Trump offered condolences following the death of Pope Francis, posting a brief message on Truth Social that read, "Rest in Peace."
"Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!" Trump wrote in the tribute.
As the Vatican adjusts to the loss of its spiritual leader, a meticulously orchestrated period begins—one steeped in centuries of tradition and critical to the governance of the global Church.
What Does Sede Vacante Mean?
When the death of a pope is confirmed, the Catholic Church enters a phase known as Sede Vacante, Latin for "the seat being vacant." This period, governed by strict canon law, triggers a sequence of events designed to both honor the deceased pope and prepare for the election of a new pontiff.
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According to tradition, the camerlengo, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, is the official responsible for certifying the pope's death and initiating the formal protocols. Farrell sealed the papal apartment and broke the pope's Fisherman's Ring, a symbolic gesture to prevent its misuse.
Each pope picks his own ring, which is destroyed at the end of his papacy, a formality meant to symbolize the end of his reign and to prevent forgeries. The papal Fisherman's Ring was named for the apostle Peter, who was a fisherman and the first pope.
A mourning period, known as the Novendiale, lasts nine days. Pope Francis' funeral will follow simplified rites, consistent with his humility in life. Unlike many of his predecessors, he requested burial in a wooden, zinc-lined coffin at Rome's St. Mary Major Basilica rather than the traditional crypt beneath St. Peter's.
Who Takes Over the Vatican When a Pope Dies?
During Sede Vacante, governance of the Catholic Church temporarily passes to the College of Cardinals, though their authority is strictly limited. The heads of Vatican departments, including those in the Roman Curia, cease exercising their duties until a new pope is elected. However, papal legates—diplomatic representatives—continue their external functions.
Roughly 120 cardinals under the age of 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave, the cloistered voting session that decides the next pope. The conclave is held two to three weeks after the pope's funeral. Ballots are cast up to four times per day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority.
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The only clue for the public during the conclave is the smoke rising from the chapel's chimney—black for no decision, white when a new pope has been chosen. "The new pope will be announced with the words 'Habemus Papam,'" the BBC noted, "and will then appear on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica to deliver his first blessing."
As the church begins the process of choosing its next leader, it will also reflect on the legacy of the man who reshaped its image over a 12-year pontificate.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met privately with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, just hours before the pontiff's death. Vance, a practicing Catholic, reflected on their final encounter and expressed condolences in a post on X Monday.
"I was happy to see him yesterday, though he was obviously very ill. But I'll always remember him for the below homily he gave in the very early days of COVID. It was really quite beautiful," Vance wrote.
The meeting came a day after Pope Francis delivered remarks critical of immigration policies associated with the Trump administration.
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