Pope Francis’ Death: Why does Camerlengo speak his name three times?

The Vatican officially announced the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on Monday (21). The announcement was made by Cardinal Kevin Farrell Vatican Camerlengo.

After the death is confirmed by the doctors, the Cardinal Cardinal of the Church, who is a kind of “assistant” of the Pope, is the first to be notified to start all the rites that end with the election of a new head of the Catholic Church – a process known as Conclave.

According to the official statement, Pope Francis passed away 7:35 am in the morning. Cardinal Farrell stated: “With deep pain, I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francesco. The bishop of Rome Francesco returned to his father’s house.”

Cardinal Cardeal is the first to know of the Pope’s death and must communicate to the dean of the Cardinian College and he informs the entire group. Death is also communicated to the head of the diocese of Rome, who gives the news to the public.

This system is explained in a kind of church constitution, called University Dominici Gregispromulgated by John Paul II in the 1990s. The confirmation of death also happens by the Vatican communication sector.

First, the Camerlengo is called to the place where the body is and gives three hammers on the forehead of the dead pontiff while speaking the name of his baptism, in this case, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, also three times. If there is no answer, the death is declared by Camerlengo himself.

From then on, a new phase of rites begins.

Papal apartment and office are sealed. The goal is to ensure that nothing is removed or altered in these spaces until a new Pope is elected and can take possession.

The Pope’s ring is destroyed by the Camerlengo, in the presence of other cardinals, an act that symbolizes the end of the authority of the late Pope.

Revealing the news to the world is also a function that, once again, is the responsibility of Cardinal Camerlengo.

According to church rules, the first to be notified is the vicar of Rome, then the dean of the Cardinian college and then the Ambassadors of the Holy See, to transmit the news to the heads of state with whom the Holy See has diplomatic relations.

Only then is the public announcement made through a statement from the Holy See and a public proclamation in St. Peter’s Square.

It is from this moment that the so -called vacant thirst begins, the period when there is no Pope in the Catholic Church. During this phase, it is up to Cardinal Camerlengo to manage the apostolic See, the headquarters of the Church of Rome.

During the vacant headquarters, the Camerlengo is responsible for managing the church’s property and becomes the Vatican’s inaugural real estate administrator, such as the apostolic palace, the Pontiff’s official residence, the Lateran Palace, former papal residence, and the apostolic palace of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer house. This last place is much explored in the movie “Two Popes”, by Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles.

Ensuring the quiet and safe progress of the Conclave is also an assignment of Camerlengo. The process of choosing the new head of the Catholic Church is extremely confidential.

The cardinals gather in the sistine chapel to closed doors and nothing that happens inside can be revealed, especially the vote. A Camerlengo prior magazine is made on site to ensure that there are no audio or video recording devices.

Finally, for belonging to the College of Cardinals, Camerlengo is also entitled to a new choice of the new Pope during the conclave.

It is important to reinforce that these functions are performed in the name and with the consensus of the College of Cardinals. Camerlengo acts as an administrator and supervisor, ensuring that the transition to a new pontificate occurs in an organized manner and in accordance with the established standards.

With information from CNN.

This content was originally published in Pope Francis’ Death: Why does Camerlengo speak his name three times? on the CNN Brazil website.

Source: CNN Brasil