From Prince Albert to Paris, people are attending ceremonies to mourn the passing of the Pope. This photo is from inside Notre Dame cathedral where a poster shows Pope Francis following the Vatican's announcement of his death, Monday, April 21, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

By Teena Monteleone

Rituals and traditions

Local diocese reacts to popes passing; what happens next?

Apr 22, 2025 | 11:56 AM

As the mourning of Pope Francis continues, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert will join others around the world in an official period of mourning for nine days known as Novemdiales — a tradition that dates back to Roman times.

During the nine days, cardinals from around the world congregate in Rome and papal candidates essentially campaign on their visions and the direction they think the church should take.

In a statement issued by the local diocese, Prince Albert Bishop Stephen A. Hero called the passing of Pope Francis a profound moment of grief and encouraged everyone during the nine-day mourning period to pray and each parish to offer a mass as soon as possible for the Pope.

“It was a special joy to see Pope Francis appear on the balcony over St. Peter’s square on Easter Sunday and give a final blessing Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world). It was clear that the Holy Father was still in fragile health, but that he wanted, as best he could, to be visible and present to all who are celebrating the joy of Christ’s Resurrection,” Hero said.

It was from that same balcony that his election as pope was first announced on March 13, 2013. Hero said the years between those two appearances have been eventful ones. He said he is grateful for the leadership of Pope Francis and his work of evangelization, solidarity with the poor and those on every ‘periphery’, as well as the care for the earth.

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Hero wrote, “I will never forget the penitential pilgrimage of Pope Francis to Canada in 2022, when he met with the Indigenous Peoples of this land. Despite his painful mobility issues at that point, it was clear that he wanted to support us, and even more, to join us as a good shepherd on the journey of healing and reconciliation.”

The funeral, which will be attended by kings, queens, heads of state and religious leaders, must take place four to six days after the pope’s death in St. Peter’s Square, weather permitting. It is currently scheduled for this Saturday, April 26. According to the Vatican, despite most recent popes being buried beneath the basilica there, Francis asked to be laid to rest in a simple wooden casket in Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica, which is outside the Vatican’s walls.

The pope’s death initiates a centuries-old process that culminates with a conclave, a gathering of the Church’s current 135 Cardinal Electors who are sealed inside the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pontiff. The successful candidate must have a two-thirds-plus one majority vote. Paper ballots are burned after each round of voting, sending up black smoke to signal no choice has been reached yet. White smoke is used to reveal that a new pope has been selected.

News of the popes death comes one week after the Prince Albert Roman Catholic Diocese announced the passing of the former bishop for Prince Albert, the Most Reverend Albert Thévenot.

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