7Official Confirmation and Announcement

The process begins with the official confirmation of the pope’s death. Traditionally, the Camerlengo—the cardinal who administers the Vatican during the Sede Vacante—is responsible for verifying the pope’s death. Once confirmed, he notifies the Dean of the College of Cardinals and begins preparations for informing the broader Church and the world.
While older customs included ceremonial gestures (such as gently calling the pope by his baptismal name to confirm death), today the procedure is more medical and subdued. Shortly after, the Vatican Press Office releases an official announcement, and bells toll across Rome and the world.

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