Liturgical protocol after the death of Pope Francis
The Holy See has established a period of nine consecutive days of mourning following the death of Pope Francis, who died this Monday at the age of 88. This protocol, which begins this Saturday with the funeral of the Pontiff, will include a series of solemn masses in St. Peter’s Basilica until May 4, according to an official statement.
Calendar of ceremonies and participants
The central event will be the funeral mass this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (local time), followed by a ceremony presided over by the Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, on Sunday on the steps of the Basilica. The celebrations will continue with:
- Monday, April 29: Mass led by the vicar general of Rome, Baldassare Reina in the Church of Rome.
- Tuesday, April 30: Ceremony by Arciprest Mauro Gambetti, with the participation of the Chapter of the Papal Basilicas.
- Wednesday, May 1: Celebration in the Papal Chapel led by the Vice Dean of Cardinals, Leonardo Sandri.
The subsequent days will include ceremonies with key figures such as camerlengo Kevin Farrell, prefect Claudio Gugerotti (specialized in Eastern Churches), and Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, closing the cycle on May 4 with a mass presided over by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti.
Canonical implications and next steps
This period of novendials (nine days of mourning) is a tradition rooted in Catholic liturgical law, which precedes the conclave to elect the new Pope. According to the norms established in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, the conclave must be convened within 20 days after the death of the Pontiff, although historically it usually begins between 15 and 18 days.
During this process, the cardinal electors (under 80 years of age) will meet in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy measures. The election requires a two-thirds majority, and its decisions will influence the future of the Catholic Church in areas such as doctrine, global governance and interreligious dialogue.
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Source: Official statement from the Holy See / Reform Agency (image)




