The transition from one Pope to the next can be a mysterious time for those who are not familiar with the work of the Roman Catholic Church, and even for some.
This process is governed by rules and traditions that have been around for centuries, many of which are in Latin and accompany its many vocabulary. The election of the new Pope could unfold over weeks or months as a small group of Catholic high-ranking clergy decides the next leader in a loyal world herd of over a billion.
With the first Pope transition, which is underway over a decade after Pope Francis' death, here are some terms to know.
conclave
This is the Cardinals meeting, scheduled to begin on May 7th, and the next Pope will be elected. The word comes from the Latin “with keys,” and refers to the isolation imposed on men (and they were always men) when making decisions within the Vatican. You may not leave the conclave except in rare cases. Also, no telephone, internet or newspapers are permitted.
The Cards vote in secret until they reach a two-thirds majority, and a new Pope is elected. This process was recently made into a drama in the film “Conclave.” Pope experts said they presented a rather accurate portrayal. (The New York Times writes about some of the possible candidates.)
Cardinals College
Known as the “Prince of the Church”, Cardinals is the second highest Catholic priest and together they are known as the Cardinals University. There are 252 cardinals appointed by the Pope to support and advise him on the matters of the Church, and when the Pope dies, it falls to the university to choose a successor.
The word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardinal. This means “acting as a hinge.”
The group is led by the dean of Giovanni Batista Re, a 91-year-old Italian who has now spent much of his career at Romaculia. He will preside over a meeting that leads to Conclave, but will not attend the meeting, as only Cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote for the Pope.
Camerlengo
Camerlengo, appointed by the Pope before his death, is a cardinal who manages the Vatican from the moment the clergy dies and oversees many tasks of the transition until a successor is elected.
His duties include removing the Pope's ritual ring known as the Fisherman's Ring after his death, sealing his studies and bedroom, and lordly sided his internment.
The Italian word comes from the medieval Latin word “Kamallingus.” This means Chamberlain. This position is currently held by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, a 77-year-old American born in Ireland.
Sede Vacante
This is the period between the Popes and comes from the Latin phrase, meaning “seats are empty.” During this time, Camerlengo is the de facto administrator of the Vatican, so Cardinals University maintains general oversight of the church, but is not permitted to make any major decisions.
According to historian Salvador Miranda, the longest Cede Bacante was more than two years and more than seven months, a looming result between the French and Italian factions of the Cardinals, and ended in 1271 with the election of Gregory X.
white smoke
After the votes at the Conclave, the votes are burned. A spread of smoke appears from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, and onlookers gather outside should see signs that the Cardinals have made the decision.
If the smoke is black, that means they are deadlocked. White smoke means that a new Pope has been elected. Chemicals are used to change colour, but in 2005 the Vatican began ringing the bells at St. Peter's Cathedral to confirm that a decision was made.
“Habemus Papam”
When a new Pope is chosen, he appears dressed in a white cassock on the balcony of St. Peter's Cathedral. The senior cardinal stands with him and declares a Latin phrase meaning “Havemus Papam,” “We have a Pope.”
