After the death of Pope Francis: Grief and Pope election are coming up!

After the death of Pope Francis: Grief and Pope election are coming up!

Petersplatz, 00120 Rom, Italien - Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025 at the age of 88. He succumbed to the consequences of a stroke after being treated in the Gemelli Clinic in Rome for several weeks due to a new pneumonia. The Pope, bourgeois Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires. He entered the Jesuit Order in 1958, studied philosophy and theology and was consecrated to priest in 1969.

1992 he was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires and in 2001 as cardinal. In 2013 he was elected Pope 266 and left a heir, which was characterized by popular, modest and reform -oriented attitude. His encyclical "Laudato Si’ "focused on environmental and climate protection, in which he underlined his focus on social justice and interreligious dialogue. Despite health challenges, he continued his activities, most recently with the blessing "Urbi et Orbi" on Easter Sunday 2025, just a few days before his death.

burial and funeral service

The organization of the funeral service is responsible for the Camerlengo, the cardinal treasurer of the Vatican. The deceased Pope is dressed in a measuring robe and laid out in the chapel of his place of death. An official confirmation of death takes place as part of a short ceremony by four ranked church representatives. The body is then transferred to St. Peter's Basilica in a procession, where a first service is held.

The burial of Pope Francis takes place on April 26, 2025 in the basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. International dignitaries are expected at the funeral service, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The ceremony is transferred worldwide, including ARD, ZDF and the Vatican TV service.

successor and sedis vacancy

Immediately after the death of Pope Francis, the time of the sedis vacancy starts. Almost all curia chiefs of their office are removed, with the exception of the Camerlengo and the responsible secretary of the Vatican authorities, as well as the General Revisor, which remains in office at the request of the late Pope. During this phase, the cardinals who are entitled to vote, which are under 80 years old, meet in the Vatican within 20 days to convene the conclave.

The Cardinal College meets daily for "General Congregations", in which the formalities for the burial and the convening of the conclusion are addressed. The possible successors include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pietro Parolin, Matteo Zupi and Jean-Marc Aveline, while conservative candidates such as Péter Erdö and Raymond Burke could also play a role. A German favorite is Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller.

The Sedis vacancy itself is symbolized by a specific coat of arms, which shows crossed keys with an open screen instead of a tiara. In addition, the Vatican post office issues stamps that are only valid during this time. The most recent sedism vacancy took place in March 2013 and lasted 13 days before Francis was elected.