I am not a Catholic, but for decades – especially since reading David Yallop’s book, THE POWER AND THE GLORY and Dan Brown’s novel, ANGELS AND DEMONS – I have been intrigued by the Catholic Church, for a church steeped in a 2000-year-old tradition, one of the most fascinating Catholic events is the death of a Pope.

When a Pope dies, the world literally stops for a while and the major networks cease their originally scheduled programming for hours, if not days.

Incidentally the last time a sitting Pope died was on 2 April 2005, which means that many have never witnessed the traditions and ceremonies that surround the death and funeral of a Pope. With the passing of Pope Francis today, Easter Monday at the age of 88, I decided to explore this.

When a Pope dies, the entire country, the Vatican City falls into an eerie silence. Bells toll somberly across Rome and the great bronze bell of St. Peter’s Basilica sounds its heavy, sorrowful note. And within the thick, ancient walls of the Apostolic Palace, an ancient and sacred ritual begins — one unseen by the public.

The first thing that happens is that a Cardinal, known as the Camerlengo is summoned. It is the Camerlengo that pronounces the Pope dead, he announces his death to the world, and he administers the Holy See during the interregnum, until a new Pope is elected. More on that later.

Standing solemnly at the Pope’s bedside, the Camerlengo must perform a ritual that is as theatrical as it is solemn and grave. He calls the Pope’s baptismal name three times. In the case of Pope Francis, the Camerlengo must have said, “Jorge, Jorge, Jorge”. Once no response is received, the Camerlengo declares the Pope dead. As we learnt from ANGELS AND DEMONS, that’s it. No autopsy.

Next, the Camerlengo solemnly removes the Fisherman’s Ring — the signet worn by the Pope — and ceremoniously destroys it, usually by hammering it or cutting it with shears. This ritual symbolizes that the earthly reign of the man who once ruled Christendom is well and truly over.

Following the death of the Holy Father, the Holy See enters a time of Sede Vacante— the “empty seat.” The papal apartments are sealed, literally locked and taped shut. The Swiss Guard — the colorful sentinels you must have seen on TV — redouble their watch.

Under Catholic rules, a Pope’s burial should take place between four and six days after his death. But there is a nine-day period of mourning known as the novendiale. For those nine days, the Church mourns, and the city of Rome transforms into a river of black and purple.

Behind the scenes, the Pope’s body is prepared for public viewing and then laid in state before thousands of mourners — the faithful, who move past his bier with heads bowed, at St. Peter’s Basilica. There is also the procession across St. Peter’s square.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, a quiet but intense political ballet begins among the Church’s Cardinals. In whispered conversations in hidden corridors, alliances form and fade. Who will be worthy to take his place and bear the mantle of the first Bishop of Rome, Pope Peter I?

Because the Church of Christ must march on and the gates of hades cannot prevail, then comes the centuries old process of the election of a new Pope, the Conclave. The Conclave is the oldest historical method of electing the Pope. It involves different rounds of voting until a Pope emerges having won two-thirds majority.

The Conclave takes place typically between 15 to 20 days after the death of a Pope. Inside the Sistine Chapel, behind marble walls and beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes, 120 cardinals — those under the age of 80 — gather in red robes to select the next Pope.

With almost theatrical drama, the Cardinals, with no phones or connection to the outside world. walk in solemn procession into the Sistine Chapel, chanting the ancient prayer Veni Creator Spiritus (“Come, Creator Spirit”), invoking the Holy Spirit to guide their minds and hearts.

The heavy doors of the Sistine Chapel are shut with the words “Extra omnes!” — “Everyone out!” Only the Cardinals and a few support staff remain. The world is cut off. The voting begins.

Each Cardinal writes the name of his chosen candidate on a ballot, folds it, and walks, to the altar under Michelangelo’s towering Last Judgment. There, he slides it into a chalice and utters the words: “Testor Christum Dominum qui me iudicaturus est”: “I call Christ the Lord to witness that my vote is given to the one I think should be elected.”

After each round of voting — known as a scrutiny — the ballots are burned in a special stove. Chemicals are added: black smoke means no Pope has been chosen; white smoke signals there is new Pope. All this while, the crowd wait in St. Peter’s Square, staring up at the thin chimney. Every wisp of smoke is greeted with a wave of gasps and murmurs from the crowd.

The shortest Conclave is history is generally considered to be the October 1503 papal conclave which lasted for less than 10 hours. There was also the 1 – 2 March 1939 Conclave which saw the election of Pope Pius XII on his 63rd birthday to replace Pope Pius XI. The longest Conclave lasted for three years. Not to worry, modern Conclaves now last only a few days.

When a Cardinal finally receives two-thirds of the votes, bells will ring within the Sistine Chapel and the chosen Cardinal is escorted outside and asked the historical question – “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?”

If the Cardinal accepts his election – and who would not? – he is immediately asked to take a new name. That is how Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis; Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła became Pope John II.

But before he is dressed in his papal garment, he will be led to the “Room of Tears” where he will have a moment alone to reflect on the burdens of his new position. It is actually in the room of tears that he changes into his papal vestments

Next, the new Pope is dressed in white papal garment. Fun fact: the papal garment is prepared in three sizes since no one knows beforehand who will be chosen as Pope. Once dressed, the Pope returns to the Sistine Chapel to be greeted by the Cardinal, each kissing his hand in reverence.

Outside, the pure unmistakable white smoke appears, to be greeted by the triumphant tolling of the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica and a roar of the crowd.

And on the central balcony, the Senior Cardinal Deacon appears in red and gold, raises his arms to silence the crowd and declares to the world, “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!” (“I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!”)

Credit: Orji Agwu Uka

By Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Leader of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Today, I celebrate a timeless doyen of democracy and an astute mentor of many leaders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. By global standards, Asiwaju is truly a man of the people and the visionary of our times, who devoted his life to pursuing the greatest goods to the greatest number of people. This has been the core of his heart and life from when he was a boardroom guru in the 1980s to when he joined partisan politics in the 1990s.

Born on March 29, 1952, Asiwaju’s foray into politics in 1991 was never a mistake, though it came with a huge sacrifice that cost dearly. As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I celebrate how Asiwaju firmly stood with the people rather than dining with the military oligarchy that annulled the outcome of the June 12, 1993 presidential election ostensibly won by Chief M.K.O Abiola (now of blessed memory), an annulment that set our fatherland back to the pre-colonial era.

I also celebrate how Asiwaju teamed up with the progressives to establish the National Democratic Coalition, a movement of likeminds and progressives that fiercely challenged the regime of the late tyrant, General Sani Abacha; mobilised support for the restoration of democracy to our fatherland and campaigned for the recognition of Chief M.K.O Abiola as the winner of the June 12 presidential election. And this conviction and pursuit eventually earned him exile from the land of his birth. Yet, he was undaunted in his quest to see his fatherland liberated from the era of locusts that pitched us against the comity of nations.

I celebrate how Asiwaju returned to Nigeria in 1998 when the darkest era of the late tyrant finally folded into the abyss of extinction after fighting doggedly on the side of the people. The end of the dark era culminated in his election as the third civilian governor of Lagos State in January 1999. Though faced with diverse heinous challenges at the inception, Asiwaju came out strong and victorious, setting Lagos on the path of irreversible progress, reforming the coastal state to a globally
competitive smart city and turning it to a constant destination of strategic investment. And the world can no more look away from Nigeria just because of the pro-people reforms he carried out in Lagos.

Asiwaju’s quest for the greatest goods for the greatest number of people pushed him to national politics, the kind of venture that consumed the nationalists and patriots who lived before him. At different times, he challenged the traditional forces that held our fatherland down. He first fought for the soul of our fatherland on the platform of the defunct Action Congress, and it did not entirely produce an enviable outcome. He later switched to the Action Congress of Nigeria, and banished the regressive elements from the six states of the South-west. Full of hope, Asiwaju stressed forth his hands across Benue and Niger, and together, they rescued Nigeria from the hands of the regressive.

At 72, as the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju has brought rare conviction and passion to the business of public governance, courageously daring the forces of regression and tirelessly pursuing the interests of over 227 million regardless of their faith, ideology and race. The task is truly daunting, but the victory is undoubted. Only within 10 months of Asiwaju’s ascendancy to the presidency, we have started witnessing the dawning of economic restoration and the ray of political renaissance under his
watch.

As I nostalgically reflect on the journey so far, I remember his labour and toiling for our fatherland, even when most misunderstood. I remember his undying passion to lead the path to a greater nation, even when the future looks so bleak and always unsure. I remember his utter commitment to a movement of patriots and progressives eternally sworn to rescue our fatherland from the claws of the ageless vultures and the blood-thirst beaks of mindless hawks that always seek to feast on the flesh of Nigeria. Despite their ferocity, he eventually subdued the enemies of our souls, even right in the midst of inferno they set ablaze for us all.

That is the reality in our fatherland today. Asiwaju is at the forefront of that reality. And we are all witnesses to this history, even from its making to its maturation. Now, as he graciously turns 72 on this auspicious day, I cannot, but earnestly pray God grants him longer life and inner strength to steadily paddle the ship of our nation to the coast of endless ecstasy.

Heartiest 72nd Birthday, my leader and mentor.

● Bamidele, Leader of the 10th Senate, writes from Abuja