Louise Sallé 12:06 p.m., December 31, 2022, modified at 12:07 p.m., December 31, 2022

An official Vatican document, called "Universi Dominici Gregis", details everything that must happen from the acknowledgment of the death of the pope until the election of his successor.

But, since Benedict XVI does not leave the Holy See "vacant", this protocol does not apply, in theory.

The Vatican could nevertheless partly draw inspiration from it to pay homage to the late pope emeritus. 

Benedict XVI has just died and the death of a Pope is not an easy task, because it is necessary to respect a very strict protocol, a bit like the code "London Bridge is down" for the crown of England.

But, for this pope, this is an unprecedented situation.

It is the first time in 700 years that we have witnessed the death of a pope who does not leave the Holy See vacant. 

An official document details the procedure to follow

What happens in the days following the declaration of death is therefore not easy to predict.

For the death of a sitting pope, an official document, "Universi Dominici Gregis" details everything that must happen.

And there are many traditions.

For example, to find that a pope is dead, his skull is struck with a small silver hammer, calling the pontiff by name.

Then, the bells of Saint Peter's in Rome sound the death knell and it is the beginning of nine days of mourning for the entire Vatican. 

>> READ ALSO -

 Back to the main dates of Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI

The burial could probably take place in the crypt of the basilica

The body is then exposed in the basilica, for several days, dressed in its pontifical vestments, with the formal prohibition, for the faithful who parade, to photograph it.

"In all probability, we can predict that there will be a large funeral celebration at Saint Peter's in Rome, in the Vatican, probably after a period of exposure of the body", advances Michel Kubler, former editor-in-chief at

The Cross

and Assumptionist priest in Rome.

“The funeral could then be organized in such a way as to allow a large number of political and religious representatives from all over the world to come and take part,” he adds.

The burial could also probably take place in the crypt of the basilica, alongside the predecessors of Benedict XVI, if the late pope did not express other wishes.