Pope Francis is dead: What happens next?

Cliff Notes – Pope Francis is dead: What happens next?

• The interregnum, or “empty chair,” involves a structured transition between popes, encompassing a period of mourning and preparation for the conclave.
• During this phase, the College of Cardinals assumes governance, enacting specific protocols to manage church affairs until a new pope is elected.
• The conclave, a gathering of cardinals, is convened to select the next pope, following detailed procedures to ensure a smooth electoral process.

Few things are as carefully choreographed in the Catholic Church as the period between two popes. Thetime of the “empty chair,” as the interregnum is referred to, consists of three stages.