Papal funeral rites

Now that Pope John Paul II has died, the responsibility for the operations of the Church temporarily falls on the shoulders of the College of Cardinals.

They are responsible for ensuring that funeral rites for the Pope and the election of his successor are carried out in accordance with the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (the Order of Service for the Burial of the Roman Pontiff).

The Cardinals must also adhere to the "apostolic constitution" or Universi Dominici Gregis, written by John Paul nine years before his death.

The 13,000-word document decreed that funeral rites should be celebrated for nine consecutive days and that the Pope's burial should take place no sooner than four days, and no later than six days after his death.

The Vatican announced Monday that Pope John Paul II's funeral will be held on Friday, April 8, in St. Peter's Square six days after his death.

The funeral details were finalized by the College of Cardinals who met for over two hours on Monday to plan the service.

As many as 100 world leaders and 2 million pilgrims are expected to attend the funeral, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) in the open air on the steps of St. Peter's.

On Monday, the Pope was taken from his apartment to lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica for three days and nights. An estimated 100,000 watched the solemn procession. He was dressed in crimson-red robes.

For burial, a Pope is traditionally dressed in formal Papal robes, with two veils of white silk placed over his face and hands.

The Pope's body is then placed inside a series of three coffins, nestled one within the other. The first -- a cypress wood coffin, signifying his humanity -- is placed inside another made of lead adorned with the Pope's name and dates of his pontificate -- plus a skull and crossbones.

Those two are then placed inside a third, unadorned elm wood coffin, meant to symbolize dignity.

The coffins are then placed at the entrance to the Basilica of St. Peter's in Vatican City.

Before the Pope is finally interred within his tomb beneath the Basilica of St. Peter's in Vatican, there will be a funeral mass presided over by the dean of the College of Cardinals. An elegy recounting his principal achievements is read in Latin.

There was some speculation the Pope would ask to be returned to his native Poland for burial, but Vatican officials say he expressed no such wish in his will.

Therefore, tradition will be followed.

Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Vatican's top spokesman, said John Paul II will be buried in the spot previously used by Pope John XXIII, whose coffin was moved to a more accessible location in 2000 after that pope was beatified.

Vacant See

During the period of the Sede Vacante, or Vacant See, the Camerlengo's first task immediately after the Pope has drawn his last breath was to verify his death.

This was done in the presence of the papal master of ceremonies, Archbishop Piero Marini. Traditionally, the Pope's name would be called out three times without response.

As late as 1903, death was verified by striking the pontiff's forehead with a silver hammer. It may also have been used on Pope John XXIII, who died in 1963, according to America, the Catholic weekly magazine.

The Camerlengo then sealed the Pope's private apartments and residences.

There were looting problems in the Middle Ages, but more recently, officials worry about the security of a pope's private papers.

Next, the Camerlengo must ensure the Pope's lead seal is destroyed to ensure that it cannot be used by anyone else.

The Camerlengo was also personally responsible for breaking the "Ring of the Fisherman." The gold signet ring, engraved with the Pontiff's name and the figure of Saint Peter casting his net from a fisherman's boat, is a singular symbol of Papal authority. Its destruction in front of the other cardinals signifies absence of the church's highest authority.

The Camerlengo authorized the death certificate and notified the Cardinal Vicar for the Diocese of Rome (currently Camillo Cardinal Ruini).

The secretary of the Apostolic Camera drew up the death certificate.

No autopsy is performed.

The Camerlengo informed the vicar of Rome of the Pope's death, and the vicar informed the people of Rome. However, most people heard about the Pope's death through the media.