Pope Francis, the cause of death and the rite of the observation of the death

From 7.35 on the morning of April 21, the world looks to the Vatican where Pope Francis is deceased. Many the faithful who came to St. Peter’s Square, while Argentina, the birthplace of the Pontiff, has proclaimed seven days of national mourning to honor the memory of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first South American in history to reach the highest ecclesiastical charge.

According to what was learned by the Ansa agency, one of the possible causes of the death of Pope Francis would have been acerebral hemorrhage. Probably a strokeit is not known if of a hemorrhagic nature or not. No connection, at least apparently, with the respiratory problems that had led to his hospitalization to Gemelli last February. “The Dad He passed away serenely, “say the doctors of the Gemelli who followed him by taking care of it from the bilateral pneumonia that had afflicted him (he also suffered from bronchiectasias and asthmatiform bronchitis). The death occurred suddenly, But as we said, it would not be directly connected to the respiratory pathologies from which the pontiff had been suffering for some time.

While the flags are exhibited at half -auction throughout the country, ceremonies and moments of recollection in numerous Argentine cities are planned. A few hours after Francesco’s disappearance, at 8 pm, one of the most solemn moments will be held full of meaning of the Vatican tradition: ithe rite of the observation of the Pope’s death, chaired by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Vatican Camerlengo, according to what was established byOrdo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, The protocol that regulates the funeral of the Pontiff and that Pope Francis had updated.

The new Ordo is, in fact, was designed to be more adherent to the Gospel and the spirit of the Vatican Council II. Pope Francis explicitly requested: the simplification of papal titles, preferring expressions such as bishop of Rome or servant of the servants of God; the elimination of some symbolic elements deemed superfluous, such as the pastoral or the triregno on the coffin; The greatest centrality of the Word of God and hope in the resurrection, rather than sumptuous rites or state protocols. All to give the funeral a tone of more noble simplicity.

The rite will take place at the Santa Marta chapelwhere already at 7.45 pm, in addition to the Camerlengo, the dean of the Cardinal College, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, are expected, Pope Francis’ family membersas well as the director and deputy director of the management of health and hygiene of the State of the Vatican city. This was announced by the office of the Pope’s liturgical celebrations.

The observation of Francesco’s death It is not only a formal act but a moment of passage that sanctions, in an official and ritual way, the end of the pontificate. Tradition, handed down over the centuries, It is accomplished in an atmosphere of recollection and solemnity. Camerlengo has the task of verifying the death, with the presence of authoritative witnesses of the Curia and family members. Once upon a time the ritual also included the Pope’s symbolic call three times with his name of baptism, without receiving an answer: a gesture that is sometimes more evoked more as a historical memory but that no longer constitutes the practice.

Subsequently The chamberlain removes the fisherman’s ring from the ring finger of the deceased pontiff and orders that the papal seal is broken (by John Paul II is simply canceled with a scratch). After the observation, the Camerlengo seals the papal apartment and takes on the role of management of the vacant venue, preparing the ground for the conclave. At the same time, the Deposition of the body in the coffin. From this moment, the Church enters the so -called “Vacant location”a transition period that will lead to the election of the new Pope. Camerlengo becomes temporarily regent of the Vatican, while the College of Cardinals prepares for the conclave.