What Happens When the Pope Dies?

A Look at Tradition, Transition, and the Future After Pope Francis

When the news broke on April 21, 2025, that Pope Francis had passed away at the age of 88, the world paused. Then the question “What Happens When the Pope Dies?” was asked millions upon millions of times around the world.

Even for those who aren’t Catholic, the death of a pope feels like the closing of a chapter in human history. It’s one of the few events that reaches into every corner of the globe — touching politics, faith, culture, and even questions about where we go from here.

But what actually happens when the pope dies? And why does it matter so much, even in 2025? Let’s walk through it.

Step One: Confirming the Death

The first step is ancient, and it’s formal to the point of ritual. The camerlengo — the Vatican official responsible for managing things between popes — must verify the death. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who holds that title, followed the traditional steps: he called out Pope Francis’s baptismal name three times. After no response, the pope was officially declared dead.

Then comes the destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring. This ring, worn only by the pope, symbolizes his authority. In a small but deeply symbolic ceremony, it is broken to prevent forgery of papal documents. From that moment on, the chair of Saint Peter is officially vacant.

In modern times, the Vatican’s press office quickly steps in to release statements and manage the media. But the core rituals — the ones that have been followed for centuries — stay the same.

Step Two: Mourning and Funeral

After the death is confirmed, a structured mourning period begins. Pope Francis’s body was moved to St. Peter’s Basilica, where he lay in state for several days. Thousands of faithful streamed through the basilica to pay their final respects.

The funeral is itself a massive world event. Scheduled for April 26, 2025, it will take place in St. Peter’s Square and is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of mourners, including heads of state and religious leaders from around the world. Pope Francis, ever humble even in death, had requested to be buried not in the Vatican grottoes but in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore — a nod to his deep devotion to Mary and his simple roots.

The nine days following the funeral, called the novemdiales, are days of prayer and mourning for the universal Church.

Step Three: Preparing for a New Pope

Even as the Church grieves, there’s practical work that has to happen. The camerlengo temporarily oversees the day-to-day running of the Vatican. No major decisions can be made. The Church is in a kind of sacred holding pattern.

At the same time, preparations for the conclave begin. The conclave is the secretive, highly ritualized election process by which a new pope is chosen. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote — about 135 men in total right now.

The rules of the conclave are strict: no phones, no internet, no outside communication. The cardinals are sequestered inside the Sistine Chapel, where they’ll cast secret ballots until someone achieves a two-thirds majority.

If you see black smoke rising from the chapel’s chimney, it means no decision has been made. If you see white smoke, it means the Catholic Church has a new pope.

Step Four: Who Might Be Next?

One of the most interesting things about the death of Pope Francis is that he shaped the very group that will choose his successor. Francis appointed a large majority of the current voting cardinals, and many of them reflect his vision of a more global, pastoral Church.

There’s heavy speculation this time around that the next pope could come from outside Europe — possibly Africa or Asia. Names like Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo are being mentioned.

Such a move would be historic. It would signal not just a shift in geography but a new chapter in the Catholic Church’s evolving identity: less Eurocentric, more truly global.

Step Five: The Broader Impact

The death of a pope always stirs deep emotions within the Church, but it also ripples out into the broader world.

Pope Francis, in particular, had built strong relationships beyond the Catholic community. His papacy emphasized themes of mercy, climate responsibility, dialogue with other religions, and advocacy for the poor. He challenged the status quo while holding firm to certain traditions, frustrating both progressives and conservatives at different times.

His passing leaves an opening — and a tension. Will the next pope continue Francis’s emphasis on inclusion and reform? Or will there be a return to a more traditionalist model?

Even non-Catholics are paying attention, because the Catholic Church remains a major player in global conversations about ethics, human rights, and diplomacy. Who the Church chooses next could influence debates on everything from immigration to artificial intelligence.

A Moment of Reflection

Pope Francis himself was deeply aware of the traditions surrounding a pope’s death. He famously joked about planning his own funeral and encouraged Catholics to think often about their own mortality — not in a morbid way, but as a reminder to live with purpose.

Now, as the world watches the cardinals gather under Michelangelo’s frescoes, there’s a sense that we’re not just saying goodbye to a man, but turning a page in the life of one of the world’s oldest institutions.

History is unfolding in real time. And as it does, it’s worth remembering what Pope Francis said shortly after he became pope in 2013: “The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.”

The next pope will inherit not only the keys to the Vatican but also that vision — a vision that may be more urgently needed now than ever.