After Francis: The Interregnum
By now, you’ve probably heard the news that Pope Francis passed away this morning, the second day of the Easter season.
Photo: Adnkronos
Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at 7:35am local time, as confirmed by the Holy See Press Office. The 88-year-old pontiff, who led the Catholic Church for nearly 13 years, died peacefully at his Casa Santa Marta residence at the Vatican.
Francis was still convalescing after a serious bout of double pneumonia that kept him hospitalized for 39 days at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome beginning Feb. 14. It was the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.
Related: Reports of the Church’s Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
The surprise election of Cardinal Bergoglio on Mar. 13, 2013, at age 76, marked several historic firsts: He became the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first to choose the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi’s devotion to poverty, peace, and creation.
His nearly 13-year pontificate was characterized by a focus on mercy, care for creation, and attention to what he called the “peripheries” of both the Church and society. He made 47 apostolic journeys outside Italy, though he never visited his native Argentina.
During his tenure, Pope Francis canonized 942 saints — more than any other pope in history — including his predecessors John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. He published four encyclicals and seven apostolic exhortations while promulgating 75 motu proprio documents.
And now, in the days after Francis, the princes of the Church will convene to end the papal interregnum and elect a new supreme pontiff.
What Happens During the Interregnum
The day of the Pope’s death is counted as the first day of the Vacancy of the Holy See, or Interregnum. Three phases can be identified.
1. The Nine Days of Mourning (Novendiales). The Pope is laid in state in St. Peter’s Basilica, permitting the faithful to pay their respects. Every day each Cardinal celebrates a Memorial Mass. Between the fourth and sixth day of this period a Solemn Funeral is celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, with the other Cardinals. The College of Cardinals will also declare an official mourning period of nine days, called the Novendiales, which during the Vacancy after the death of Pope St. John Paul II began on the day of the funeral, counted as Day 1 of the Novendiales. On each of the nine days a different Cardinal celebrates a public funeral rite for the Holy Father, following the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (2024). While Popes are typically entombed in the crypt of St. Peter’s, Pope Francis has directed that after his funeral he is to be entombed at the Papal Marian Basilica of St. Mary Major.
2. The Preparation for the Conclave. From Day 10 to the beginning of the Conclave, which must begin no earlier than Day 16, and no later than Day 21 of the Vacancy.
3. The Conclave. From the time that the Cardinals enter the Conclave until the one elected accepts his election.
Of course, the natural question that arises at times like these is that of the succession: Who will be the next successor of St. Peter?
A name mentioned with noteworthy frequency in online Catholic circles is Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Photo: Ammar Awad, Reuters
Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM … is an Italian Catholic prelate who has served as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 6 November 2020. A Franciscan friar, he served as Custos of the Holy Land from 2004 to 2016 and as Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate from 2016 to 2020. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.
Readers with an interest in generational theory should take note that if elected, Patriarch Pzzaballa will be the first Pope from Generation Jones.
Related: Lost Generations
On 16 October 2023, [Pizzaballa] condemned Hamas' actions as barbaric and offered himself as a hostage in exchange for captive Israeli children held in Gaza during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.
Pizzaballa has advocated for an end to the 2023 Israel–Hamas War and the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Pizzaballa was a signatory to the "Statement on the Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza" which condemned attacks on civilians, called for de-escalation and called for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. His statement was criticized by Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen.
Make what you will of those data points.
And here’s a curious bit of trivia that may or may not have particular meaning in regard to current events:
Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025)
Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM (born 21 April 1965)
Sign or coincidence? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, please pray for the repose of the Holy Father’s soul and increased wisdom and courage for the cardinal electors.
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