Step by Step: The Catholic Church after the death of the Pope

[Gnarwhal]

(taken from @Sachinettiyil on Twitter)

I thought folks would find this interesting, there were a couple details I didn't know.

Also for reference, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church is currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell of Dublin.

1. Confirmation of Death

The Carmerlengo (Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church) officially confirms the pope’s death.

Traditionally, he gently calls the pope’s baptismal name three times. If there’s no response, he declares the pope dead.

2. Destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring

The Fisherman’s Ring, a signet used to seal official documents, is broken by the Camerlengo in the presence of the cardinals.

This prevents its misuse and symbolizes the end of the pope’s authority.

3. Official Announcement

The Vatican makes an official public announcement.

Bells may toll and mourning customs begin, including the flying of flags at half-staff in some places.

4. Nine Days of Mourning

A period of official mourning lasts nine days, during which Masses are offered for the repose of the pope’s soul.

The body is prepared and displayed in St Peter’s Basilica for public veneration.

5. Burial

The pope is traditionally buried int he crypt beneath ST Peter’s Basilica (though he may request another resting place).

The body is usually placed in three coffins: wood, lead, and another wooden coffin, each placed inside the other.

6. Sede Vacante (Vacant See)

During this time, all governance of the Church is paused, except for routine matters handled by the Camerlengo.

No new appointments or major decisions can be made until a new pope is elected.

7. Preparation for the Conclave

The College of Cardinals gathers in Rome.

After at least 15 days but no more than 20 days following the pope’s death, the conclave begins to elect a new pope.

Only cardinals under 80 years old are eligible to vote.

8. The Conclave

Held in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy.

Voting continues until a candidate receives two-thirds majority.

After a successful vote, the elected cardinal is asked: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?”

If he says yes, he chooses a papal name.

9. The New Pope is Announced

The cardinal proto-deacon steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and declares “Habemus Papam!” (We have a Pope!)

The new pope then appears and gives his first Urbi et Orbi blessing.

 

[Michie]

Pope Francis’ death: Vatican holds first step in papal funeral rites

Cardinal Kevin Farrell presided over the rite in the chapel of Pope Francis’ Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta, just a little over 12 hours after the pontiff’s death.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[RileyG]

Thanks for posting!

 

[Michie]

The Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship, Fr. Dustin Dought, has issued a document entitled, Liturgical Notes and Musical Resources for Use Upon the Death of Pope Francis. The resource highlights different aspects of the days of mourning for the Roman Pontiff, including Masses to be celebrated, what to say during the Eucharistic Prayer when the name of the Pope is normally mentioned, etc.

For example, the document gives a comprehensive set of examples with regard to how to phrase the place where the mention of the pope’s name is normally done in the Eucharistic Prayer. Here are a few:

• Eucharistic Prayer I (The Roman Canon): “throughout the whole world, together with N. our Bishop”
• Eucharistic Prayer II: “and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with N. our Bishop”
• Eucharistic Prayer III: “your pilgrim Church on earth, with N. our Bishop”

You can find that document here: Liturgical Notes and Musical Resources for Use Upon the Death of Pope Francis.

USCCB Gives Liturgical Notes on the Death of Pope Francis - Adoremus

The Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship, Fr. Dustin Dought, has issued a document entitled, Liturgical Notes and Musical Resources for Use Upon the Death of Pope Francis. The resource highlights different aspects of the days of mourning for the Roman Pontiff, including...

adoremus.org

 

[RileyG]

The Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship, Fr. Dustin Dought, has issued a document entitled, Liturgical Notes and Musical Resources for Use Upon the Death of Pope Francis. The resource highlights different aspects of the days of mourning for the Roman Pontiff, including Masses to be celebrated, what to say during the Eucharistic Prayer when the name of the Pope is normally mentioned, etc.

For example, the document gives a comprehensive set of examples with regard to how to phrase the place where the mention of the pope’s name is normally done in the Eucharistic Prayer. Here are a few:

• Eucharistic Prayer I (The Roman Canon): “throughout the whole world, together with N. our Bishop”
• Eucharistic Prayer II: “and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with N. our Bishop”
• Eucharistic Prayer III: “your pilgrim Church on earth, with N. our Bishop”

You can find that document here: Liturgical Notes and Musical Resources for Use Upon the Death of Pope Francis.

USCCB Gives Liturgical Notes on the Death of Pope Francis - Adoremus

The Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship, Fr. Dustin Dought, has issued a document entitled, Liturgical Notes and Musical Resources for Use Upon the Death of Pope Francis. The resource highlights different aspects of the days of mourning for the Roman Pontiff, including...

adoremus.org

Thanks for posting! I was wondering about that as well.

 

[Michie]

Thanks for posting! I was wondering about that as well.

You’re welcome!

 

[Apple Sky]

@Gnarwhal

Traditionally, the camerlengo (chamberlain) would tap a silver hammer on the pope's head while calling out his baptismal name three times. The hammer is no longer used. Far more conventionally, an electrocardiogram was used to confirm John Paul II's death in 2005.

Hence the song 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' by the Beatles.

 

[Gnarwhal]

@Gnarwhal

Traditionally, the camerlengo (chamberlain) would tap a silver hammer on the pope's head while calling out his baptismal name three times. The hammer is no longer used. Far more conventionally, an electrocardiogram was used to confirm John Paul II's death in 2005.

Hence the song 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' by the Beatles.

Was it kind of like the hammer they use to test reflexes? Either way, that's pretty cool, I didn't know that.

 

[Michie]

Was it kind of like the hammer they use to test reflexes? Either way, that's pretty cool, I didn't know that.

I could not find an image of one to post but I remember learning about that practice in RCIA and I thought it was so weird! Lol

 

[Michie]

Hey! What do you know? I ran across this.

Are popes hit on the head when they die?​

And is there a special hammer for that?​

Pope Francis, the 265th successor to Peter, has died, and in the upcoming weeks the eyes of the world will be on the Catholic Church. This follows one of the most fruitful seasons of conversion in my experience, with many places reporting twice as many people entering the church as in previous years.

First, let me offer my prayers for the soul of the Holy Father, and for the Cardinal electors to follow the promptings of the Spirit during the conclave as they choose the next Bishop of Rome. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

I only have time for something short right now, and the titular question came up in searches of my old site with alarming regularity: What about that hammer? Answers tend to be all over the map from clickbaity nonsense to uninformed debunking.

My answer: this has happened in the past, but does not happen any longer, and when it stopped is up for debate.

Following the death of a pope the camerlengo (Cardinal Kevin Farrell) has the duty of "safeguarding and administering the goods and temporal rights of the Holy See" during the interregnum. He manages the church until the election of the next pontiff, oversees the conclave, and gets a nifty scepter covered in red velvet.

Continued below.

Are popes hit on the head when they die?

And is there a special hammer for that?

weirdcatholic.substack.com

 

[Gnarwhal]

Hey! What do you know? I ran across this.

Are popes hit on the head when they die?​

And is there a special hammer for that?​

Pope Francis, the 265th successor to Peter, has died, and in the upcoming weeks the eyes of the world will be on the Catholic Church. This follows one of the most fruitful seasons of conversion in my experience, with many places reporting twice as many people entering the church as in previous years.

First, let me offer my prayers for the soul of the Holy Father, and for the Cardinal electors to follow the promptings of the Spirit during the conclave as they choose the next Bishop of Rome. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

I only have time for something short right now, and the titular question came up in searches of my old site with alarming regularity: What about that hammer? Answers tend to be all over the map from clickbaity nonsense to uninformed debunking.

My answer: this has happened in the past, but does not happen any longer, and when it stopped is up for debate.

Following the death of a pope the camerlengo (Cardinal Kevin Farrell) has the duty of "safeguarding and administering the goods and temporal rights of the Holy See" during the interregnum. He manages the church until the election of the next pontiff, oversees the conclave, and gets a nifty scepter covered in red velvet.

Continued below.

Are popes hit on the head when they die?

And is there a special hammer for that?

weirdcatholic.substack.com

It kinda looks like what you'd strike a bell with. Interesting!

 

[Michie]

@Gnarwhal

Traditionally, the camerlengo (chamberlain) would tap a silver hammer on the pope's head while calling out his baptismal name three times. The hammer is no longer used. Far more conventionally, an electrocardiogram was used to confirm John Paul II's death in 2005.

Hence the song 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' by the Beatles.

That song has nothing to do with confirming a pope’s death from what I read.


McCartney said in 1994 that it symbolizes the failures of life:

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is my analogy for when something goes wrong out of the blue, as it so often does, as I was beginning to find out at that time in my life. I wanted something symbolic of that, so to me it was some fictitious character called Maxwell with a silver hammer. I don't know why it was silver, it just sounded better than Maxwell's hammer. It was needed for scanning. We still use that expression now when something unexpected happens."

McCartney referred to the song when talking about his 2005 album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard:

"In the past I may have written tongue-in-cheek, like 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer', and dealt with matters of fate in a kind of comical, parody manner. It just so happens in this batch of songs I would look at these subjects and thought it was good for writing. If it's good enough to take to your psychiatrist, it's good enough to make a song of."

 

[Michie]

It kinda looks like what you'd strike a bell with. Interesting!

I imagined it looking different.

 

[Gnarwhal]

I imagined it looking different.

More liiiiike...

 

[Michie]

More liiiiike...

There would be nothing left!

 

[Gnarwhal]

There would be nothing left!

It's how the pope's body becomes one with the Force

 

[Michie]

Weirdo!