{{Short description|Term in Catholic Canon law}} {{for|the belief in the invalidity of the post-Vatican II papacy|Sedevacantism}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2025}} [[File:Sede vacante.svg|alt=The umbraculum, the arms of the Holy See under sede vacante|thumb|The umbraculum, the arms of the Holy See under {{lang|la|sede vacante}}.]] {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}} {{Title language|la}} {{canon law}} '''Sede vacante{{efn|{{IPA|la|ˈseːde vaˈkante|pron:|link=yes}}, {{lit|with the chair [being] vacant}}}}{{efn|An ablative absolute construction; the phrase in the nominative case is {{lang|la|sedes vacans}}. The term in {{langx|grc|εν χηρεία|en chēreía|in widowhood}}.<ref name="xeria8esharx">{{cite news|title=Κρήτη: Εν χηρεία η θέση του Αρχιεπισκόπου - Ξεκινά η διαδικασία διαδοχής|trans-title=The See of the Archbishop in widowhood: the succession process begins|publisher=parapolitica.gr 98.1 FM|date=2021-03-12|access-date=2022-02-01|url=https://www.parapolitika.gr/ellada/article/1154690/kriti-en-hireia-i-thesi-tou-arhiepiskopou-xekina-i-diadikasia-diadohis/|language=el|archive-date=1 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201181707/https://www.parapolitika.gr/ellada/article/1154690/kriti-en-hireia-i-thesi-tou-arhiepiskopou-xekina-i-diadikasia-diadohis/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}''' (Latin for “the seat being vacant”) is the period during which a Catholic diocese or archdiocese has no prelate in office, with the prelate's office being the cathedral.{{efn|Some are also used as a place of residence if the prelate lives within the cathedral compound.}}
The term is most commonly used to describe the interval between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor, when the Holy See is temporarily without a pope.<ref>{{cite web |author=Christoph Strack |date=22 April 2025 |title=What happens after a pope dies? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/what-happens-after-a-pope-dies/a-72309471#:~:text=The%20time%20of%20the%20%22empty,to%2C%20consists%20of%20three%20stages.&text=This%20period%20of%20transition%20between,new%20head%20of%20the%20church. |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=dw.com}}</ref>
During a sede vacante, the normal authority of the bishop or pope is suspended, and limited governance is carried out according to church law until a new officeholder is installed.
== History == During the medieval period, the archpriest, archdeacon and primicerius notariorum (chief of the notaries) in the papal court formed a regency council to govern during sede vacante periods.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Noble |first=Thomas F. X. |title=The Republic of St. Peter : the birth of the Papal State, 680-825 |date=1984 |isbn=0-8122-7917-4 |location=Philadelphia |pages=207 |oclc=10100806}}</ref>
It was the obligation of the Camerarius (papal chamberlain), the head of the Camera Apostolica, to formally establish the death of the pope.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/cardinal-camerlengo |title=cardinal camerlengo |author=Massimo Faggioli |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=britannica.com}}</ref> Gradually this led to the theory that the Camerarius as the chief of the Roman Curia should continue to conduct normal business upon the death of the pope and was tasked with the deceased pope’s burial as well as the preparation for the new election. This process was evident during the tenure of Camerarius Boso Breakspeare, nephew of Pope Adrian IV, who served as chamberlain during the late 12th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Visceglia |first=Maria Antonietta |url=https://brill.com/view/book/edcoll/9789004206236/Bej.9789004206229.i-444_012.xml |title=The Pope's Household And Court In The Early Modern Age |date=2011-01-01 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-20623-6 |language=en |archive-date=19 April 2022 |access-date=21 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419230942/https://brill.com/view/book/edcoll/9789004206236/Bej.9789004206229.i-444_012.xml |url-status=live }}</ref> During the {{lang|la|sede vacante}} of 1268 to 1271, the importance of the Camerarius was so clear that the cardinals prepared to elect a new one if he died.<ref name=":0" />
The papacy was most recently {{lang|la|sede vacante}} from 21 April<ref>{{cite web |url=https://about.brepolis.net/2025/05/07/sede-vacante-conclave-2025/ |title=Sede Vacante & Conclave 2025 |date=21 April 2025 |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=about.brepolis.ne}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/steps-choose-successor-pope-francis-2025-04-21/ |title=What's next after Pope Francis' death? Funeral and succession explained |author=Philip Pullella |date=7 May 2025 |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=reuters.com |archive-date=22 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422125715/https://www.reuters.com/world/steps-choose-successor-pope-francis-2025-04-21/? |url-status=live }}</ref> to 8 May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.c-mw.net/a-timeline-in-events-from-the-death-of-pope-francis-to-the-election-of-pope |title=A timeline in events: From the death of Pope Francis to the election of Pope Leo XIV |author=Theo Relly |date=9 May 2025 |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=c-mw.net}}</ref>
==Vacancy of the Holy See==<!-- This section is linked from Seal (device) --> After the death or resignation of a pope, the Holy See enters a period of {{lang|la|sede vacante}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/explainer-sede-vacante-and-interregnum-what-do-they-mean-5059 |title=EXPLAINER: 'Sede vacante' and 'interregnum' — what do they mean? |author=Jonah Mckeown |date=23 April 2025 |access-date=18 May 2025 |website=ewtnvatican.com |archive-date=15 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515002512/https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/explainer-sede-vacante-and-interregnum-what-do-they-mean-5059 |url-status=live }}</ref> In this case, the particular church is the Diocese of Rome and the "vacant seat" is the {{lang|la|cathedra}} of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome.
thumb|{{lang|la|Sede vacante}} stamp of 1939. According to {{lang|la|Universi Dominici gregis}}, the government of the Holy See and the administration of the Catholic Church during {{lang|la|sede vacante}} fall to the College of Cardinals, but in a very limited capacity. At the same time, all the heads of the departments of the Roman Curia "cease to exercise" their offices. The exceptions are the Cardinal Camerlengo, who is charged with managing the properties of the Holy See, and the Major Penitentiary, who continues to exercise his normal role. If either has to do something which normally requires the assent of the pope, he has to submit it to the College of Cardinals. Papal legates continue to exercise their diplomatic roles and both the Vicar General of Rome and the Vicar General for the Vatican City State continue to exercise their pastoral roles during this period. The postal administration of the Vatican City State prepares and issues special postage stamps for use during this particular period, known as "{{lang|la|sede vacante}} stamps".
The coat of arms of the Holy See also changes during this period. The papal tiara over the keys is replaced with the {{lang|la|umbraculum}}, or {{lang|it|ombrellino}} in Italian. This symbolizes both the lack of a pope and the governance of the camerlengo over the temporalities of the Holy See. The camerlengo also ornaments his arms with this symbol during this period, which he removes once a pope is elected. Previously during this period, the arms of the camerlengo appeared on commemorative Vatican lira coinage. It now makes its appearance on Vatican euro coins, which are legal tender in all Eurozone states.
The interregnum is highlighted by the funeral Mass of the deceased pope and the general congregations of the College of Cardinals for determining the particulars of the election, and finally culminating in the papal conclave to elect a successor. Once a new pope has been elected, and ordained bishop if necessary, the {{lang|la|sede vacante}} period ends, even before the papal inauguration.
Cardinals present in Rome may wait a maximum of fifteen days after the start of the vacancy before they hold the conclave to elect the new pope, although this period may be extended by five days by a vote of the college. After twenty days have passed, they must hold the conclave, even if some cardinals are not present. The period from the death of the pope to the start of the conclave was often shorter, but after Cardinal William O'Connell arrived too late for two conclaves in a row, Pope Pius XI extended the time limit. With the next conclave in 1939, cardinals began to travel by air. Days before his resignation in February 2013, Pope Benedict XVI amended the rules to allow the cardinals to begin the conclave sooner if all voting cardinals are present.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20130222_normas-nonnullas_en.html |title=Motu proprio ''Normas nonnullas'' |website=Vatican.va |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-date=3 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303015240/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20130222_normas-nonnullas_en.html |url-status=live }}</ref> {{lang|la|Sede vacante}} periods may be months or years long due to deadlocked conclaves, but are less than a month long most of the time.
The longest period without a pope in the last 250 years was the approximately half-year from the death in prison of Pius VI in 1799 and the election of Pius VII in Venice in 1800.
===Extended {{lang|la|sede vacante}} periods=== Conclaves and papal elections are generally completed in short order, but there have been several periods when the papacy has been vacant for months or even years.
The following table details {{lang|la|sede vacante}} periods in excess of a year:
{|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Preceding Pope !! Subsequent Pope !! Beginning !! Ending !! Duration |- | Celestine IV || Innocent IV || 10 November 1241 || 25 June 1243 || 1 year 7 months |- | Clement IV || Gregory X || 29 November 1268|| 1 September 1271 || 2 years 10 months |- | Nicholas IV || Celestine V || 4 April 1292 || 5 July 1294 || 2 years 3 months |- | Clement V || John XXII || 20 April 1314 || 2 August 1316 || 2 years 3 months |- | Gregory XII || Martin V || 4 July 1415 || 11 November 1417 || 2 years 5 months |}
==={{lang|la|Sede vacante}} periods since 1799=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Preceding Pope !! Subsequent Pope !! Beginning !! Ending !! Duration<ref>As is usual in English, in canon law also ([https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PS.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 203] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415143719/http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PS.HTM |date=15 April 2021 }}), the initial day is not counted in calculating the length of a period, unless the period began with the beginning of the day.</ref> |- | Pius VI || Pius VII || 29 August 1799 || 14 March 1800 || {{sort|99|}}197 days |- | Pius VII || Leo XII || 20 August 1823 || 28 September 1823 || 39 days |- | Leo XII || Pius VIII || 10 February 1829 || 31 March 1829 || 49 days |- | Pius VIII || Gregory XVI || 30 November 1830 || 2 February 1831 || 63 days |- | Gregory XVI || Pius IX || 1 June 1846 || 16 June 1846 || 15 days |- | Pius IX || Leo XIII || 7 February 1878 || 20 February 1878 || 13 days |- | Leo XIII || Pius X || 20 July 1903 || 4 August 1903 || 15 days |- | Pius X || Benedict XV || 20 August 1914 || 3 September 1914 || 14 days |- | Benedict XV || Pius XI || 22 January 1922 || 6 February 1922 || 15 days |- | Pius XI || Pius XII || 10 February 1939 || 2 March 1939 || 20 days |- | Pius XII || John XXIII || 9 October 1958 || 28 October 1958 || 19 days |- | John XXIII || Paul VI || 3 June 1963 || 21 June 1963 || 18 days |- | Paul VI || John Paul I || 6 August 1978 || 26 August 1978 || 20 days |- | John Paul I || John Paul II || 28 September 1978 || 16 October 1978 || 18 days |- | John Paul II || Benedict XVI || 2 April 2005 || 19 April 2005 || 17 days |- | Benedict XVI || Francis || 28 February 2013 || 13 March 2013 || 13 days |- | Francis || Leo XIV || 21 April 2025 || 8 May 2025 || 17 days |}
==Catholic dioceses and archdioceses==
The term {{lang|la|sede vacante}} can be applied to Catholic dioceses, archdioceses, and eparchies other than the Papacy when a bishop or archbishop has died, resigned, been transferred, or lost his office. If there is a coadjutor bishop for the diocese, the coadjutor bishop immediately succeeds to the episcopal see and no period of ''sede vacante'' occurs.
Within eight days after the see is known to be vacant, the college of consultors (or the cathedral chapter in some countries)<ref>See ''Codex Iuris Canonici'' Canon 502 § 3 (noting that an episcopal conference can transfer the functions of the consultors to the cathedral chapter).</ref> is obliged to elect a diocesan or archdiocesan administrator.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1G.HTM |title=Code of Canon Law, canon 421 §1 |publisher=Intratext.com |date=4 May 2007 |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030059/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1G.HTM |url-status=live }}</ref> The administrator they choose must be a priest or bishop who is at least 35 years old.<ref>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1G.HTM Code of Canon Law, canon 425 §1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030059/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1G.HTM |date=26 March 2023 }}. The word used (''sacerdos'') applies also to a bishop, not just a priest.</ref>
If the college of consultors fails to elect a qualifying person within the time allotted, the choice of an administrator passes to the metropolitan archbishop or, if the metropolitan see is vacant, to the senior-most suffragan bishop by appointment. The pope can also decide to name an administrator directly; in this case the role is apostolic administrator. If the apostolic administrator is a diocesan bishop or archbishop of a diocese or archdiocese, he temporarily governs the vacant diocese as well as his own.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1G.HTM |title=Code of Canon Law, canons 421 §2 and 425 §3 |publisher=Intratext.com |date=4 May 2007 |access-date=11 May 2013 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030059/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1G.HTM |url-status=live }}</ref> The administrator has powers similar to those of a bishop or archbishop, except for matters excepted by the nature of the matter or expressly by law.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 May 2007 |title=Code of Canon Law, canons 426-427 |url=http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1G.HTM |access-date=11 May 2013 |publisher=Intratext.com |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030059/http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P1G.HTM |url-status=live }}</ref> Canon law subjects his activity to various legal restrictions and to special supervision by the college of consultors (as for example canons 272 and 485).
Until an administrator is in place, the governance of the see is entrusted, with the powers of a vicar general, to the (senior) auxiliary bishop, if there is one, or otherwise to the college of consultors as a whole.
Vicars general and episcopal vicars who serve as a bishop's deputy lose their ability to exercise the bishop's executive powers during ''sede vacante'';<ref>Codex Iuris Canonici Canon 481 § 1.</ref> a vicar general who is himself a bishop retains the powers of his own office, to exercise under the authority of the administrator.<ref>Codex Iuris Canonici Canon 409 § 2.</ref> However, vicar generals retain the duties and responsibilities of the office during ''sede vacante,'' serving alongside the diocesan or apostolic administrator to maintain continuity until the succeeding bishop is installed or assumes office on a diocese.
The coat of arms of the departing bishop or archbishop may continue to be used during {{lang|la|sede vacante}} while awaiting the installation of a successor. Once a successor is installed and the ''sede vacante'' period ends, the diocese will begin using the new bishop's arms.
While an episcopal seat is ''sede vacante,'' churches in the diocese will skip the usual mention of the local bishop in the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass: after mentioning the Pope, the celebrant will either immediately say “and all the clergy”, or refer to all bishops as “the Order of Bishops.” If the administrator overseeing the ''sede vacante'' period is a bishop, however, his name may be mentioned ("our Administrator", or simply as "our Bishop") as if the diocese has a prelate installed in office.
The administrator may not sit on the cathedra – the vacant seat itself – even if he is himself a bishop or archbishop, as he is not the bishop ''of'' the vacant see. He may only use a chair reserved for the main celebrant of a Mass.
==Other uses== The term has been adopted in sedevacantism, an extreme<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=oZiScvbS6-cC&pg=PA16 Eugene V. Gallagher, W. Michael Ashcraft (editors), ''Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America'' (Greenwood Publishing Group 2006] {{ISBN|978-0-31305078-7}}), p. 16</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=LR0Nyt3bi_MC&pg=PA434 William J. Collinge, ''Historical Dictionary of Catholicism'' (Scarecrow Press 2012] {{ISBN|978-0-81085755-1}}), p. 434</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=yUqp1_31B-MC&pg=PA257 Mary Jo Weaver, R. Scott Appleby (editors), ''Being Right: Conservative Catholics in America'' (Indiana University Press 1995] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927155802/https://books.google.com/books?id=yUqp1_31B-MC&pg=PA257#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=27 September 2024 }} {{ISBN|978-0-25332922-6}}), p. 257</ref> position within Catholic traditionalist movement. Sedevacantists believe that all popes since the Second Vatican Council have been heretics, and that therefore the see of Rome is vacant.
The term ''sede vacante'' is also used in the Anglican Communion, including in the canon law of the Church of England.<ref>Canon C.19, Church of England, https://www.churchofengland.org/about/governance/legal-resources/canons-church-england/section-c</ref> When a diocesan see is vacant, its temporalities vest in the Crown as guardian, including the bishop's right of patronage to benefices. The exercise of this is termed the Crown's {{lang|la|sede vacante}} patronage.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Archived copy | url=https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-12/sede-vacante-patronage.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811003947/https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-12/sede-vacante-patronage.pdf | archive-date=2023-08-11}}</ref> It is also used in other contexts where there is a vacancy in a see.<ref>{{lang|la|Sede vacante}} Wills: A Calendar of Wills Proved Before the Commissary of the Prior and Chapter of Christ Church, Canterbury During Vacancies in the Primacy (Cross & Jackman, 1914)</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tma.melbourneanglican.org.au/2024/10/2024-presidential-address-to-the-melbourne-synod/|title=2024 Presidential Address to the Melbourne Synod|first=Jenan|last=Taylor|date=9 October 2024|website=The Melbourne Anglican}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/locations/queensland/c-e-towns/directory/2502-the-church-of-the-annunciation-anglican-church|title=The Church of The Annunciation Anglican Church | Churches Australia|first=UBC Web|last=Design|website=www.churchesaustralia.org|access-date=21 April 2025|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629155407/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/locations/queensland/c-e-towns/directory/2502-the-church-of-the-annunciation-anglican-church|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Catholicism}} * Glossary of the Catholic Church * Index of Catholic Church articles
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en/special/sede-vacante/sede-vacante-2025.html Vacancy of the Apostolic See 2025]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Catholic Church legal terminology Category:Election of the pope Category:Latin legal terminology Category:Apostolic Camera Category:Interregnums