Amid ongoing health issues facing Pope Francis, here is the process by the Vatican when a pontiff passes away.

Pope Francis’ declining health in recent weeks has sparked renewed curiosity about Vatican traditions. The 88-year-old pope, who has been battling double pneumonia in hospital for two weeks, had an ...

Since the 13th century, the embalmed body of the deceased pope has been taken, in procession, to lie in state, on a raised ...

If a pope dies, the person who certifies his death is the camerlengo, or chamberlain, who currently is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell. The Irish-born Farrell served in Dallas before moving into his ...

Cardinal Farrell, Dallas' former bishop, oversees Vatican affairs as Camerlengo following Pope Francis' health crisis.

Once the pope’s death is confirmed, the papal signet ring, which seals official documents, will be destroyed to signal the ...

The process begins with the camerlengo (the Vatican's administrator of property and revenues) verifying the death. He does this by calling out the pope's baptismal name three times. If there is no ...

When a pope dies, his death is officially confirmed by a Vatican doctor and the Camerlengo (Cardinal Chamberlain), who temporarily takes charge of the church’s administration. Historically ...

The governance is headed by the cardinal camerlengo also known as the chamberlain. When a papal vacancy occurs due to the Pope’s death or resignation, the Cardinals are summoned to Vatican City ...

Once the cardinals are done counting the ballots in each round, they burn the ballots in a stove above the chapel. The color of the smoke that emits from the chimney will announce whether they elected ...