What's a Camerlengo? Or a papabile? Terms you should know in the papal transition

Special terms used during the period between popes

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Here is an explanation of some of the terms and practices related to the time between the death of Pope Francis April 21 and the election of his successor. "Sede vacante" Dioceses are also called sees. The Latin for "when the see is vacant" is "sede vacante." When the vacant see

Electing a new pope: glossary of key terms

VATICAN CITY, Holy See — Cardinals will take part in a conclave in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.  Here is a brief glossary of the event’s key terms:  Camerlengo: between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor, the cardinal camerlengo takes over day to day running of the Vatican. Currently Dublin-born Kevin Farrell, appointed by Pope Francis in 2019.  Candidates: in theory any baptised male Cathol…

Sede vacante to conclave: Key terms to know at the start of a papal transition

Here are some of the key words and phrases that will be used throughout the interregnum, especially the conclave to elect the new pope.

White smoke, black smoke, conclave: Here's a papal glossary of terms

A change in popes — through death or resignation — is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the spiritual head of the global Catholic Church and the Vatican’s head of state. WGN Full Coverage: Remembering Pope Francis These are the need-to-know terms — some of them in Latin — to help make sense of news in the coming days: Who is the Vatican camerlengo? This is the “chamberlain” — …

From sede vacante to conclave: Key terms to know at the start of a papal transition

null / Credi: cinemavision/Shutterstock Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 22, 2025 / 11:12 am (CNA). The start of a papal interregnum brings many terms that may not be familiar to many people, including many Catholics. Here are some of the key wor... [...]

With the death of Pope Francois began a long process that will lead to the election of his successor. But the papal abecedaire is sometimes complex!