Pope

=== Death ===
[[File:Pope John Paul II funeral.jpg|thumb|Funeral of [[Pope John Paul II]] at the Vatican in April 2005, presided over by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI]]
The current regulations regarding a papal interregnum—that is, a ''sede vacante'' ("vacant seat")—were promulgated by [[Pope John Paul II]] in his 1996 document ''Universi Dominici Gregis''. During the ''sede vacante'' period, the [[College of Cardinals]] is collectively responsible for the government of the Church and of the Vatican itself, under the direction of the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Canon law specifically forbids the cardinals from introducing any innovation in the government of the Church during the vacancy of the Holy See. Any decision that requires the assent of the pope has to wait until the new pope has been elected and accepts office.<ref>{{Cite web|title= John Paul II. ''Universi Dominici Gregis'', Chapter 1.|url= https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis.html|access-date= 19 September 2022|archive-date= 22 November 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191122152903/https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis.html|url-status= live}}</ref>

In recent centuries, when a pope was judged to have died, it was reportedly traditional for the cardinal camerlengo to confirm the death ceremonially by gently tapping the pope's head thrice with a silver hammer, calling his birth name each time.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.snopes.com/religion/hammer.asp|title = Hammer Time|date = 5 April 2005|access-date = 2 November 2014|website = Snopes.com|archive-date = 16 August 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230816180916/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hammer-time/|url-status = live}}</ref> This was not done on the deaths of popes [[John Paul I]]<ref>Sullivan, George E. ''Pope John Paul II: The People's Pope''. Boston: Walker & Company, 1984.</ref> and John Paul II.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!-- Byline --> |url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050411/path.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406020745/http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101050411/path.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 April 2005 |title=''The Path to a New Pontiff'' Retrieved: 2010-03-29 |publisher=Time.com |date=3 April 2005 |access-date=11 August 2010}}</ref> The cardinal camerlengo retrieves the [[Ring of the Fisherman]] and cuts it in two in the presence of the cardinals. The pope's seals are defaced, to keep them from ever being used again, and his [[Papal Apartments|personal apartment]] is sealed.<ref name="Global Catholic Network {{!}} EWTN">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/holysee/interregnum|title=Global Catholic Network {{!}} EWTN|website=ewtn.com|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=15 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115040946/https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/holysee/interregnum|url-status=live}}</ref>

The body [[lies in state]] for several days before being interred in the [[crypt]] of a leading church or cathedral; all popes who have died in the 20th and 21st centuries have been interred in St. Peter's Basilica. A nine-day period of [[mourning]] (''novendialis'') follows the interment.<ref name="Global Catholic Network {{!}} EWTN" />