a. Vatican Requiem
b. Apostolic Pause
c. Sede Vacante
d. Papal Silence
The period of mourning that follows the death of a Pope is known as the sede vacante, which is Latin for “the vacant see.” This is the interim period between the death of a Pope and the election of his successor. During the sede vacante, the governance of the Catholic Church is entrusted to the College of Cardinals, who handle the day-to-day affairs and make preparations for the papal conclave to elect the new Pope. It’s a time of both mourning for the deceased pontiff and anticipation for the selection of the next leader of the Church.
