What will happen at the Vatican in the coming days?

The liturgy of the “ascertainment of death” took place at the residence of the deceased pope in St. Martha's. In accordance with protocol, his embalmed body was dressed in a white cassock and transferred to the chapel on the ground floor of the residence.

Those present were the Cardinal Camerlengo, Cardinal Farrell; the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re; the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, Monsignor Diego Ravelli; the pontiff's close associates — his secretaries and assistants; and the director and deputy director of the Health Department of Vatican City State.

During the rite in the chapel, after a brief prayer recited by the Camerlengo, the director of the Health Department read the death certificate he had drawn up, which included the examination of the body, the statement of death, and the causes of death. Then, after invocations for the salvation of Jorge Mario Bergoglio's soul, his body was dressed in red liturgical vestments and placed in a double coffin of zinc and wood, with the papal miter and pallium — a white woolen scarf decorated with red crosses.

According to the ritual for the burial of a pope (Ordo exsequiarum romani pontificis), the liturgy continued with various psalms from the Bible. The chamberlain then drew up the death certificate, to which was attached the statement of the director of the health department.

After the death of the pope has been confirmed, the seat of Peter is officially vacant. In this exceptional situation, several signs of mourning are visible in the Vatican. Flags are flown at half-mast on palaces and diplomatic missions, while one of the doors of the Bronze Gate is kept closed for the entire duration of the vacancy of power.

With the death of the pope, the cardinals of the college receive the same honors from the Swiss Guards as the pope received during his lifetime. The Swiss Guards must protect the College of Cardinals throughout the vacancy.

Due to the Easter holidays, the Roman Curia – the Vatican administration – was on vacation. Vatican employees were supposed to remain on leave until Wednesday.

“But since Wednesday, April 23, is St. George's Day, the name day of the deceased pope, this day remains theoretically a holiday in the Vatican,” said a priest working in a dicastery of the Holy See.

With the death of the pope, all cardinals must return to Rome as soon as possible. Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, prefect of the Dicastery for Charity, took a flight this afternoon from Warsaw to the Eternal City. Cardinals from around the world are boarding planes and heading to the Vatican to participate in the conclave that will elect the 267th pope.

“I feel ready, but I don't know yet who I will vote for. My three criteria will be the future pope's ability to be a spiritual leader, a theologian, and a pastor,” said French cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop emeritus of Lyon.

The first “general congregation” of cardinals will take place Tuesday morning, even if all the cardinals are not yet gathered. These congregations bring together the members of the College of Cardinals — currently 252, including 135 electors — with the power to deal with current and urgent matters related to the life of the Catholic Church. In particular, they set the date and time of the funeral of the deceased pontiff and also prepare for the election of the new sovereign pontiff. Cardinals of all ages are free to speak (including those too old to vote in the conclave).

As dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re will preside over these closed-door meetings. At 91, he knows the Roman Curia inside out, and was an important figure during the pontificate of John Paul II. He served as substitute for the Secretariat of State from 1989 to 2000 — a position that, in layman's terms, corresponds to that of chief of staff and interior minister to the pope. From 2000 to 2010, he served as prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

Probably on Wednesday, the body of Pope Francis, placed in his coffin, will be carried in procession to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It will be placed near the high altar, sprinkled with holy water, and incensed. The faithful will then be able to come and pay their respects.

For Benedict XVI, who died on December 31, 2022, nearly 10 years after leaving the Chair of Peter, during a period of three days some 200,000 faithful came to pray before the catafalque of the retired German pontiff.

In 2005, when John Paul II died, more than two million faithful filed past to pay their respects to the Polish pope. Some waited up to 24 hours to enter St. Peter's Basilica.

The date of the funeral is still unknown but could take place next Saturday. The date will be determined during the general congregations. Dozens of heads of state are expected in Rome.

For John Paul II, who died on April 2, 2005, at 9:37 p.m., the funeral took place on April 8 in St. Peter's Square. Some 200 international leaders traveled to Rome for the funeral, which was celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Benedict XVI.

French President Jacques Chirac, Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski and his predecessor Lech Walesa, and US President George W. Bush, accompanied by his predecessors Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr., were among those in attendance. More than a million faithful attended the ceremony.

For Benedict XVI, 50,000 people attended his funeral in St. Peter's Square. The German pope, who had renounced the papacy 10 years earlier, was buried on January 5, 2023.

Unlike his contemporary predecessors, Pope Francis wished to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The Office for Papal Liturgical Celebrations will announce the details and the list of people who will be present.

Pope Francis had a special affection for this basilica located in the heart of Rome. He visited it more than 120 times since his election in 2013. When he left the hospital a month ago, he made a point of stopping by St. Mary Major to leave a bouquet of yellow flowers that a faithful woman had brought him at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

On April 12, he visited the basilica unannounced to pray once again before the icon of the Virgin Mary, “Salus Populi Romani.” This was his last visit there.

Pope Francis will not be the first to be buried in this church, which is dear to the people of Rome. Seven other popes have been buried there before him, the last being Clement IX (1667-1669).