This afternoon, from 8:00 p.m. local (18:00 GMT), it will take place The rite of the verification of the death of the pontiff in his residence, The Santa Marta house.
It will be in the chapel of this building where it will be seen and Not in the Apostolic Palace, as the Pope himself decreed in lifethat He refused to reside in the Apostolic Palace since his election in 2013.
In addition, at 7:30 p.m. local (17:30 GMT) has called the prayer of A rosary in the Plaza de San Pedro.
The Vatican has entered thus in period of “vacant headquarters” And it will be administered until you find A successor by Cardinal CamarlengoAmerican Kevin Joseph Farrell.
The ‘post-mortem’ process will be agreed in The important congregations of Cardinals, led by the purple deanthe Italian Giovanni Battista re.
Tomorrow will take place The first general congregation with the cardinals who are already in Rome and His first work will be to stipulate the funeral liturgy.
Body of Pope Francis It will be veiled from today in the Santa Marta housewhile it will be predictably transferred on Wednesday morning To the Basilica of San Pedro for exposure to the faithfulas spokesman Matteo Bruni has advanced.
Another aspect that remains to know is how many days The faithful will be allowed to say goodbye to the Pope’s body in the temple. In the case of Benedict XVI, who died on December 31, 2022, Three days were granted, as is tradition.
Then, it will be the moment of the funeral that, yes The term of three days is respected, They could already be held next Saturday, February 26.
Cardinal congregations usually meet every day to regulate this succession process, while cardinals from all over 80 years of age They arrive in Rome to participate in a future conclave (there are currently 135).
Your future mission will also be Agree the start of the conclavethe secret meeting in which they are locked in the Sistine Chapel for Choose a new Pope and must be held within a maximum period of 20 days After funeral.