With the death of Pope Francis, the Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, now steps into a vital role, overseeing the Church’s governance during the sede vacante — the time between popes. Inside the Vatican, Pope Francis lies in repose, robed in red to symbolize martyrdom, while mourners pay their respects.
Another powerful tradition also takes place: the destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring, a gold symbol of papal authority, shattered to prevent misuse and forge a clean slate for the next pontiff. As the College of Cardinals prepares for the secretive conclave, the world prepares to say goodbye to a man who, in both life and death, rejected grandeur in favor of simplicity. His funeral, scheduled for April 26 in St. Peter’s Square, will fulfill his wish to be buried not among popes, but at Santa Maria Maggiore — a final resting place for a pope who walked with the people, not above them.