Day 1
The papal chamberlain or camerlengo, Irish-born Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is also the former bishop of the Diocese of Dallas, temporarily takes over the reins of the church. But his first task is confirming that Francis is dead.
“In this case, as in the case of the last several popes, doctors would be on hand to make the call,” Collins said. “The camerlengo is there to ensure this happens.”
There is an enduring myth, which has been accepted in some places as fact, that a pope’s death is confirmed by tapping on his forehead with a ceremonial hammer while calling out his baptismal name three times.
But Notre Dame theology professor Ulrich Lehner noted, “The hammer episode is an old tale which is not mentioned in any official text.”
Once the death is confirmed, tradition holds that the camerlengo announces in Latin to everyone around the deathbed that the pope has passed away.
“Vere, Franciscus mortus est,” or “Truly, Francis is dead,” Farrell would say.
But because the pope is also the bishop of Rome, it becomes the responsibility of the chief administrator of the Diocese of Rome “to announce to the city of Rome that the pope is dead,” Collins said.
“That has the effect of telling it to the world,” Collins said.
Church bells toll in St. Peter’s Square and across Rome and the white-and-gold Vatican flags will be lowered to half-staff. Emails will be sent out to summon the cardinals to the Vatican.
While this is going on, “the camerlengo will be securing the room, taking an inventory of the items, determining whether there is a last will or testament among the pope’s effects, things like that,” Collins said. “The camerlengo also authorizes the death certificate, seals the pope’s room, and posts a guard outside to secure the premises.”
Meanwhile, Francis will be clad in his funeral garments.
“Usually, for a funeral, vestments can be white or black or even purple,” Collins said. “In the case of a pope, the deceased pope will be vested in red over his white cassock. The clergy who officiate at the funeral mass will also wear red vestments.”
In addition, the camerlengo takes control of the papal ring, known as the Fisherman’s Ring, which used to be ceremoniously smashed when the cardinals arrive to pick a new pope to symbolize the end of Francis’ papacy, the experts said.
“The original purpose of this was to prevent forgery and ensure that nobody used the papal ring to seal a false document,” Collins said.
Once a new pope is chosen, another ring will be struck bearing the name of Francis’ successor surrounding the image of St. Peter casting a fishing net.
Back in the day, the Vatican would mint coins and produce medals commemorating the Sede Vacante, or the period during which there is no pope. The money generated by the sales of these items would help pay for the papal funeral.
Collins said that’s not happening here.
“The period without a pope is not that long,” Collins said. “For example, the interregnum between John Paul II and Benedict XVI was less than three weeks. And in any event, Vatican uses the euro now.”
