The Holy Catholic Church possesses a unique set of liturgical practices and canonical procedures for the death of a Pope and the election of his successor. These solemn rites underscore the gravity of the papal office and the Church’s unbroken continuity from St. Peter to the present day. While the death of a Pope is a moment of sorrow, it is also a time of prayerful hope and structured transition. We can – and must – pray for a holy successor who will restore all things in Christ.
Praying for the Future Pope
Here are five qualities we do well to pray for in the next Pope:
[1] Faithful Doctrine – that he will clearly teach the Deposit of Faith and publicly correct all contrary errors.
[2] Sacred Liturgy – that he will encourage reverent liturgies and not prevent any priest of the Roman Rite from offering the Traditional Latin Mass.
[3] Sound Morals – that he will clearly uphold the Ten Commandments and eliminate all confusion regarding false mercy, justification for sin, and relative moral systems.
[4] Prudent Administrator – that he will bring order and stability to governance, end the never ending synodal process, cease innovations, and only appoint priests of exemplary virtue to the episcopacy.
And absolutely most importantly…
[5] A True Apostle of Mary’s Immaculate Heart – that he will humbly and faithfully obey Our Lady of Fatima in totu! That he will consecrate Russia, promote the First Saturday Devotion, the Rosary and the Brown Scapular, and foster devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Note: Find out more about these matters in our special Fatima Today episodes:
‘Pray for the Past and Future Pope’ with Father John Lovell [Click Here For Podcast],
and ‘The Conclave: Five Things to Look for in the Next Pope’ with Murray Rundus [Click Here For Podcast]
Traditional Papal Funeral Rites Before Vatican II
Before the Second Vatican Council, papal funerals followed the rubrics for the Traditional Roman Rite and incorporated the Church’s traditional funeral customs with solemn pontifical liturgies.
Upon a Pope’s death, the College of Cardinals would begin the period of mourning with the ancient Office of the Dead. This included Vespers (Evening Prayer) on the night before the funeral, and Matins and Lauds (the Night Office and Morning Prayer) on the day of the funeral itself. These were chanted in Latin and formed part of the Church’s long-standing practice of praying for the souls of the faithful departed.
The Requiem Mass for a deceased Pope was traditionally celebrated as a Solemn Pontifical Requiem, usually by the Cardinal Dean – the most senior member of the College of Cardinals. Despite the Pope being vested in red vestments upon his death, the Mass itself was celebrated in black vestments, in keeping with the Roman Rite’s tradition for funerals.
A distinctive component of this older rite was the Absolution of the Dead, performed only in the Tridentine Mass. After the Mass, the celebrant would don a black cope and recite the prayer Non intres in judicium cum servo tuo, imploring God to spare the soul of His servant from judgment. The rite included the singing of the Libera me, Domine, the sprinkling of holy water, incensing of the body, and the final prayer of absolution.
These prayers were not generic but tailored specifically for deceased Popes. One such collect reads: “We most humbly entreat Thee, O Lord, that Thy boundless goodness may grant as bishop to the most holy Roman Church one who shall ever be both pleasing to Thee by his loving zeal…”
Special rubrics govern the use of a Requiem Mass for a Pope during the Octave of Easter.
The Novemdiales Mourning Period
The period following the Pope’s death includes the Novemdiales – nine days of mourning and Masses offered for the repose of the Pope’s soul. Embalming practices such as organ removal were discontinued after St. Pius X, who explicitly prohibited them. His own body remains incorrupt to this day.[1]
Modern Papal Funerals After Vatican II
The modifications initiated by Pope Paul VI introduced significant changes to papal funerals. One major shift was the adoption of red vestments for the Requiem Mass, a liturgical color associated with the Holy Ghost and martyrdom. Catholics seeking to restore Tradition continue to favor the black vestments prescribed in the ancient rubrics which underscore the need to pray for the deceased. The New Mass (Novus Ordo) no longer includes the Absolution of the Dead as part of the funeral liturgy and some of the older rituals and rich prayers have been excised and forgotten.
Despite these dramatic changes signaling a disconnect with our heritage, some elements of tradition remain: the nine days of mourning, the declaration of death by the Cardinal Camerlengo (chamberlain), and the eventual sealing and destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring, which symbolizes papal authority.
Interregnum – The Vacant See
Once a Pope dies the Church enters a period in which the See of Peter is ‘vacant’ (sede vacante). This period between one Pope and the next is called an interregnum (between two reigns).[2] During this time, no new laws may be promulgated, and the ordinary administrative functions of the Church are curtailed. The College of Cardinals, especially a subset known as the Particular Congregation, oversees day-to-day affairs.
Since the entire Roman Curia derives its authority from the Pope and is intended to implement the governance of the Pope, every Curial official loses that curial authority upon the death of the Pope. The various Congregations (or Dicasteries, as they seem to be called today) no longer have an acting head and are thus not able to conduct any important business.
For example, if a canonical case is pending before the Apostolic Signatura (the Church’s version of a Supreme Court), no action can be taken on it during the interregnum. Similarly, if a bishop submits a resignation during this period, it cannot be accepted.[3] Likewise, a diocese that lacks a bishop cannot have a bishop assigned during this interregnum. Any laws or decrees which the deceased Pope had planned to issue also become null and void, even if they are already signed.
Once a new Pope is elected, the normal procedure is that all the curial officials receive their previous positions on a temporary basis. The Pope can then begin to appoint new officials to each position or keep the ones his predecessor had in place.
The Election of a New Pope
After a Pope’s death or resignation, the governance of the Church temporarily passes to the College of Cardinals, who prepare for the election of a new pontiff through a conclave. The conclave begins after a 15-day mourning period, during which the funeral rites are carried out. Only Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote. As of recent custom, the number of Cardinal-electors usually hovers around 115. Francis, however, expanded the number, and in the 2025 Conclave there will be approximately 135.
On the morning the conclave begins, the Cardinals celebrate a special Mass, invoking the Holy Ghost. That afternoon, they process into the Sistine Chapel, singing the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus, and take solemn oaths to maintain secrecy and protect the integrity of the election. Once inside, all electronic devices are surrendered. The chapel is swept for surveillance, and no external communication is permitted. The Cardinal-electors are completely sequestered until a new Pope is chosen.
Each day can include up to four ballots, and a two-thirds-plus-one majority is required for election. If the conclave reaches 33 or more ballots without electing a Pope, the rules allow for a simple majority to be sufficient, though this is rarely necessary. After each vote, ballots are burned. Black smoke signals an inconclusive vote. White smoke, accompanied by the ringing of bells, heralds the election of a new Pope.
Once a Cardinal receives enough votes, the Cardinal Dean asks in Latin: “Acceptasne electionem de te canonice factam in Summum Pontificem?” (Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?). If he accepts, he then chooses a papal name: “Quo nomine vis vocari?” (By what name do you wish to be called?).
A document is then prepared by the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Ceremonies noting the acceptance and new name of the Pope. Afterward, the senior Cardinal deacon announces from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a Pope!”).
Who Can Be Elected Supreme Pontiff?
In theory, any baptized Catholic male may be elected Pope, though modern practice restricts the choice to Cardinals. He must be or be made a bishop upon election. Since the 15th century, no one outside the College of Cardinals has been elected Pope. Religious order members are eligible and have served as Popes in the past. Notably, St. Pius V was a Dominican, and Pope Francis was the first Jesuit Pope.
The College of Cardinals Report is an excellent online resource for those interested in learning more about the current College of Cardinals, including the papabile (the ones ‘experts’ think have the best chance of being elected).
Please Pray for the Future Pope
The faithful are encouraged to pray for the election of a holy Pope, using prayers such as this from the Fr. Lasance Missal (1945):
“We most humbly entreat Thee, O Lord, that Thy boundless goodness may grant as bishop to the most holy Roman Church one who shall ever be both pleasing to Thee by his loving zeal in our regard, and, by his beneficent rule, deeply revered by Thy people to the glory of Thy Name.”
In this particular time – of grave crisis within the Church – Fr. Chad Ripperger has also proposed the following salutary prayer:
Prayer for the Election of the Supreme Pontiff
Lord Jesus Christ, by entrusting to Saint Peter and his successors the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, Thou didst established the office of the papacy. Grant to Thy Church, we beseech Thee, a pope who, in his dedication to the Sacred Tradition of the Church, will seek to govern the Church according to the Deposit of Faith and for the salvation of souls. Immaculate Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Confessors, we consecrate to Thee the conclave and the election of the Holy Father. Blessed Mother, look not upon our sinfulness or upon the infidelity of many Catholics who do not accept the teaching of Thy Son, but upon the Church which is the spotless Bride of Thy Son, so that we do not get the leader we deserve, but a Holy Father who will guide the Church for the glory and honor of Thy Son. Amen.
Conclusion
From the mournful chants of Libera me, Domine to the jubilant cry of Habemus Papam, the rites surrounding the death and election of a Pope remind Catholics of the eternal nature of the Church and the divine promise: “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church” (Matthew 16:18). Let us pray earnestly for a worthy and traditional successor who will answer Heaven’s call for the restoration of the Catholic Faith throughout every corner of the globe!
ENDNOTE:
[1] Prior to Pope St. Pius X, it was common for Popes to be embalmed – and this often included the removal of internal organs, especially to prevent decay during the extended funeral rites. This practice was part of the broader European tradition of preparing the bodies of royals and high-ranking clergy for public veneration. For instance, Pope Leo XIII was embalmed in the traditional way, including organ removal. His remains were temporarily buried and later moved. Pope Pius IX was also embalmed. His body was transferred years later, and during the transfer, it was noted that his body remained fairly intact – likely due to the embalming process. Since the embalming of Popes often included evisceration (removal of the internal organs), special urns were used for the excised organs. (This practice was also common among European monarchs.) St. Pius X’s decree marked a shift toward more natural burial practices for Popes. His instructions prohibited embalming and organ removal. When his tomb was opened in 1944 during his beatification process, his body was found to be incorrupt.
[2] The longest interregnum in the history of the Church lasted 1012 days (from 23 November 1268 to 1 September 1271), from the death of Clement IV to the difficult and eventual ‘compromise’ election of Gregory X.
[3] The new Code of Canon Law requires bishops to submit their resignation upon their 75th birthday. The Pope rarely accepts it on that day. He usually waits several years before accepting the resignation, but that period of time depends on personal factors, such as the health of the bishop or how favorable he is to the Pope, or even practical matters, such as if the Pope has a replacement ready in the wings.