Choosing the next Pope: Ancient Vatican rituals begin as Cardinals gather

When a Pope dies, the world pauses – but inside the Vatican, ancient traditions quietly begin to unfold.

“There is all sorts of interest in this, and there is good teaching behind it,” Archbishop Christopher Prowse said.

The death of Pope Francis has triggered a formal nine-day mourning period, culminating in his funeral and burial on Saturday, 26 April—the first day of what the Church calls Sede Vacante, Latin for ‘the seat is vacant.’

“In this time, there is no Pope at all,” Archbishop Prowse explained. “The Bishop of Rome – the principal title of the Pope – is no longer there.”

With the papacy vacant, many Vatican officials appointed by the late Pope have stepped down. Essential operations continue, overseen by a specific cardinal known as the camerlengo.

“The camelengo is a cardinal who is a spokesman of a small group that organises things,” Archbishop Prowse said. “This time it’s Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is an Irish-born cardinal.”

As the Church begins its internal discernment, cardinals from across the globe arrive in Rome for a series of daily meetings, known as general congregations. Of the 135 cardinals under the age of 80 eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave, many are meeting one another for the first time.

“It’s like a little retreat, really,” Archbishop Prowse said.

“They meet on a daily basis, perhaps a couple of times a day, to discern and co-discern where the Holy Spirit is moving in the Church, and who amongst them could be perhaps the appropriate 267th successor of St Peter to continue leading the Church universal. I suppose this is very much like the synodality movement that Pope Francis championed.”

Once these discussions conclude, the conclave begins. The 135 cardinal-electors are sealed inside the Sistine Chapel, where they will remain until a new Pope is chosen.

“The word conclave means ‘with keys’, because they’re locked into the Sistine Chapel,” Archbishop Prowse explained. “It is absolute secrecy there. No communications going on, no mobile phones, no social media, no letters.”

Amid Michelangelo’s famed frescoes, the atmosphere is one of deep prayer and solemnity.

“This is important, as it is obviously the principal element that they want to have in their mind – where is God leading the Church at this moment?” the Archbishop said.

Voting may begin on the first afternoon with one ballot, followed by up to four ballots per day—two in the morning and two in the afternoon. A new Pope must receive a two-thirds majority vote.

“That may take a little while, that may take quite a long time – it depends,” Archbishop Prowse said.

“It may take some time for them to get to know each other a bit. But eventually, a two-thirds majority of the voters will elect one of them.”

When consensus is reached, the chosen cardinal is asked two questions: Will you accept the role of being Pope? And what name do you choose?

“For Cardinal Bergoglio, it was Francis,” Archbishop Prowse recalled.

“And for this new Cardinal who becomes the Pope, it’s up to him.”

Then, from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the ancient declaration will be made: Habemus Papam—We have a Pope.

“All of a sudden, there he will appear and give us his blessing,” the Archbishop said.

“So, we do pray certainly not only in this hinge time for Pope Francis – and recall his great legacy amongst us – but then of course, as the days go on, we’ll become more and more interested in praying for a new Pope.

“Let us pray for the new Pope. Let us pray for Pope Francis. Let us pray for the Church in this time of pilgrims of hope, the Jubilee year.”

• For more information about the next steps, read an explanation from the Vatican  HERE