Sede Vacante

Sede Vacante is the name given the situation when the Pope is no longer the Pope, and a new one has not yet been elected. The usual way in which this occurs is by the death of the Pope. There have been rare occasions when a Pope has abdicated. The last Pope to do this was Pope Celestine V, and he resigned in 1294. He died two years later. His resignation could not have been too terrible a thing to have done, since in 1313, he was declared a saint.

In the Code of Canon Law, there is no procedure to have a Pope removed from his office due to health or other possible reasons for being unworthy or unfit. Therefore the only way a Pope can leave office is by his death or by his resignation. 

During the time when the Church is without a Pope, the governing of the Church is in the hands of the College of Cardinals. I that time the Cardinals are specifically banned from changing the rules of the Papal Elections; naming new Cardinals; or making decisions or law that would bind the next Pope.

While the Sede Vacante goes on, the Vatican strikes special medals and mints special coins to reflect this status and authority of the College of Cardinals. This is a practice dating back to 1521. Since 1939 there are also special Sede Vacante Vatican stamps produced. All three of these reflect the heraldic arms of the Cardinal Camerlengo surmounted by the Pavilion, a large ceremonial umbrella, striped alternately in red and yellow. This is in combination with the Keys crossed in saltire, the emblem which reflects the temporal power of the Church.

Once elected, the Pope has the ability to alter the rules by which the next Pope will be elected. The most radical changes made during the last century were by Pope Paul VI. It was he who made age limits for the Cardinal Electors. Pope John Paul II made changes also. The most popular set up the Domus Martha. That is a residence inside the Walls of Vatican City consisting of 133 rooms. These will be used by the Cardinal Electors during the Conclave. In prior Conclaves, beds were set up in hallways and closets to accommodate the Cardinals. When the Conclave is set to begin, those normally in residence at the Domus Martha will vacate for the Conclave, and the Cardinal Electors will be moved in for the Conclave and until a new Pope is elected. The current Constitution for the election of the next Pope, and as amended by Pope John Paul II, follows here:

"THE CONSTITUTION FROM THE VATICAN"