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| Sede vacante | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sede vacante |
| Caption | Conclave in the Sistine Chapel |
| Date | See article |
| Type | Ecclesiastical interregnum |
| Location | Vatican City, Rome |
Sede vacante
Sede vacante denotes the interval between the end of one papacy and the beginning of the next, occurring when the office of Pope is vacant after death or resignation. The term frames relations among institutions such as the Holy See, Apostolic Camera, College of Cardinals, Roman Curia, and actors including the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the Camerlengo, and cardinals resident in Rome and elsewhere. During such interregna, procedures linking the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and the electoral apparatus of the Roman Catholic Church are enacted.
In ecclesiastical usage the phrase marks the temporal absence of a reigning Pontiff, distinguishing the period from canonical concepts like papal resignation or papal death. Juridically it engages offices such as the Apostolic Penitentiary, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Dicastery for Bishops, and juridical actors like the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and the Secretary of State. Liturgically it affects celebrations at St. Peter's Square, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and chapels like the Clementine Chapel.
Historical instances range from early medieval vacancies after Pope Gregory II to modern cases involving Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II. Medieval examples include contested successions with involvement by Holy Roman Emperor, Byzantine Empire, and Roman nobility such as the Counts of Tusculum. Reforms by Pope Gregory X after the Second Council of Lyons and later regulations under Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II shaped the canonical framework, influencing procedures codified in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis.
Upon vacancy the Camerlengo performs duties including the authentication of papal death, management of Apostolic Camera assets, and communication with the College of Cardinals, Roman Curia offices, and diplomatic representatives accredited to the Holy See. The Cardinal Secretary of State's functions shift; the Institute for the Works of Religion and bodies like the Prefecture of the Papal Household coordinate continuity. Restrictions apply to heads of dicasteries such as the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, with ordinary governance exercised by permanent officials and vicars like the Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome.
The selection process convenes the College of Cardinals in conclave, traditionally in the Sistine Chapel under rules established by Pope Paul VI, revised by Pope John Paul II and adjusted by Pope Benedict XVI. Electors travel from sees including Archdiocese of New York, Archdiocese of Milan, Archdiocese of São Paulo, Archdiocese of Cologne, Archdiocese of Manila, and others, subject to summons from the Dean of the College of Cardinals. Voting balloting and procedures reference the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, with ceremonial acts such as the fumata and announcement from the Loggia of St. Peter.
Temporal administration involves the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, the Governorate of Vatican City State, and the Apostolic Camera under the Camerlengo's oversight. Diplomatic relations with states accredited to the Holy See, including representatives from United States, Italy, France, Germany, Brazil, and Japan, require notification and sometimes temporary measures by the Secretary for Relations with States. Financial oversight interfaces with institutions like the Institute for the Works of Religion and the Vatican Bank during the interregnum.
Prominent vacancies include the long interregnum after Pope Clement IV leading to the Papal conclave, 1268–1271 and the subsequent election of Pope Gregory X; the vacancy following Pope Pius XI in 1939 which preceded Pope Pius XII; the 1978 dual vacancies surrounding the deaths of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul I culminating in the election of Pope John Paul II; and the 2013 resignation of Pope Benedict XVI leading to the election of Pope Francis. Each period involved figures and entities such as the College of Cardinals, the Camerlengo Enrico Gasparri, cardinals like Joseph Ratzinger and Angelo Sodano, and diplomatic interlocutors from the Holy See's Secretariat of State.
Canon law provisions in the Code of Canon Law and papal documents such as Universi Dominici Gregis regulate rights and prohibitions during a vacancy, affecting actions by clerics like Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) and administrators such as the Apostolic Nuncio to various states. Liturgical norms dictate modified rites at St. Peter's Basilica, funerary ceremonies for a deceased Pope with participation from religious orders like the Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, and diocesan clergy, and the cessation of certain papal symbols until a new Pope assumes office.