What happens after Pope Francis dies?

Pope Francis' latest health problems have set off alarm bells, and some are wondering what will happen if the Pontiff's worsening health leads to a fatal outcome.

"The chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent this afternoon, as prescribed by the Vatican medical team and by the medical team of the Policlinico A. Gemelli Foundation, showed the appearance of bilateral pneumonia that requires additional pharmacological therapy," a statement from the Vatican read.

Since his admission to the hospital, crowds of people have gathered at the doors of the Gemelli University Hospital to pray for the health of Pope Francis.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church in March 2013. He was the first pope in 1,200 years who was not of European origin, the first to come from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first to choose the name Francis (in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi).

Francis's papacy has been marked by decisions that have revolutionized the Church, such as his decisions to protect minors in the face of abuse scandals or the Church's new approach to homose*uals, which have made him a much-loved pope.

Although the faithful around the world hope for improvement, it is inevitable to wonder what will happen when Francis dies. What protocol is followed in the Vatican when a pope dies?

For centuries, there has been a perfectly detailed protocol to ensure an orderly transition in Church leadership.

Once the death of a pope is confirmed, the "Sede Vacante" protocol is opened, which means that the Camerlengo confirms his death.

According to tradition, the death of a pope is confirmed by the Camerlengo striking his forehead three times with a silver hammer while calling him by his baptismal name up to three times.

The Camerlengo plays a crucial role once the death of a pope is confirmed. He is the one responsible, in the presence of the other cardinals, for removing the famous Fisherman's ring from the pope's finger.

In the event of the death of Pope Francis, the verification of his death will take place in the chapel of the Apostolic Palace instead of in his bedroom, as had been customary. Pope Francis approved a simplification of the rituals in a new edition of the "Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis", the protocol governing the rite of the funeral of a pope, in November 2024.

The new changes also mean that, in the event of the death of Pope Francis, the three classic coffins (cypress, lead, and oak) will be replaced by a single wooden coffin with a zinc interior.

There will be no private wake, which was previously held in the chapel of the Apostolic Palace, and the body of the pontiff will be taken directly to St. Peter's Basilica, where it will be displayed before all the faithful who wish to bid him a final farewell.

By the decision of Pope Francis, his body will be displayed in an open coffin. It will be simple: there will not be a catafalque (a platform to better display the body), nor will the papal crosier (his staff) be there.

According to Javier Martínez-Brocal's book 'El Seguidor' (Editorial Planeta), the objective is that from now on, the bodies of the popes "will be veiled and buried like any other son of the Church."

The coffin will be closed the day before the funeral mass and, after the funeral, it will be transferred to the tomb for burial.

Pope Francis has opened the door for each pope to choose the place where he wants to be buried.

In his case, he has always said that he would like it to be in Santa Maria Maggiore, behind the statue of the Queen of Peace, in the room where the candlesticks were kept.

Following the death of a pope, the Camerlengo, who becomes head of the Catholic Church while the seat is vacant, calls a Conclave to elect the pope's successor within the next 15 to 20 days.

In the Sistine Chapel, cardinals under 80 years of age vote for their favorites until they reach the necessary two-thirds majority for one of them.

Once the new Pope of the Church has been elected, the famous white smoke appears. The new Holy Father then steps out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for his first Urbi et Orbi blessing, marking the beginning of a new papacy.

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