With the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, people are once again asking about the centuries-old process that determines who will become the next pope.
The method for selecting the Bishop of Rome is cloaked in ritual, secrecy, and symbolism, and this process was explored in detail by Daily Wire host Michael Knowles in a recent video, “How To Become The Pope.”
The death of Pope Francis has triggered what is known as the sede vacante, Latin for “the seat being vacant.”
As tradition dictates, the Catholic Church will now observe a period of nine days of mourning, which includes flying Vatican flags at half-staff and closing the bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica. The cardinals will decide on the date for Pope Francis’s funeral, usually within four to six days after a pope’s death.
Pope Francis recently changed…
