Ne sede vacante nihil innovetur

At 9.45 CET on 21 April 2025, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, announced the death of Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta, under the revised provisions of Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis. As we noted following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, during the sede vacante period, the central government of the Catholic Church becomes temporarily suspended as required by Universi Dominici Gregis (UDG). However, “ne sede vacante nihil innovetur“, so this will be a relatively quiet period for new “law and religion ” posts in this area.

Voting rights in the Conclave

But while we’re on the subject, a dispute has arisen over the eligibility of the former deputy Secretary of State, Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, to vote in the Conclave. Article 36 of Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis on the Vacancy of the Apostolic See and the Election of the Roman Pontiff provides that: Continue reading →