Time-honored rituals, drafted and refined over centuries, allow for ritual mourning and provide order at a dramatic moment of transition.

The death of a pope triggers a series of ancient traditions, some dating back to the Roman Empire. Here’s what would unfold if Pope Francis were to pass away.

He shared a message from the hospital. Pope Francis shared a message on social media Sunday as he remained hospitalized in critical condition with a complex lung infection . According to the Vatican,