Sede vacante

Early in church history, the archpriest, archdeacon, and "primicerius of the notaries"[clarification needed] in the papal court made a regency council which governed the sede vacante period.

[2] It was the obligation of the Camerarius (papal chamberlain), the head of the Camera Apostolica, to formally establish the death of the pope.

[3] During the long 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.

According to Universi Dominici gregis, the government of the Holy See and the administration of the Catholic Church during sede vacante falls to the College of Cardinals, but in a very limited capacity.

The exceptions are the Cardinal Camerlengo, who is charged with managing the property of the Holy See, and the Major Penitentiary, who continues to exercise his normal role.

As further indication, the Camerlengo ornaments his arms with this symbol during this period, which he subsequently removes once a pope is elected.

Once a new pope has been elected (and ordained bishop if necessary) the sede vacante period officially ends, even before the papal inauguration.

Cardinals present in Rome are required to wait at least fifteen days after the start of the vacancy before they hold the conclave to elect the new Pope.

Within eight days after the episcopal see is known to be vacant, the college of consultors (or the cathedral chapter in some countries)[7] is obliged to elect a diocesan or archdiocesan administrator.

[10] Before the election of the administrator of a vacant see, the governance of the see is entrusted, with the powers of a vicar general, to the auxiliary bishop, if there is one, or to the senior among them, if there are several, otherwise to the college of consultors as a whole.

Additionally, the administrator cannot use the cathedra even if he is a bishop or an archbishop as it symbolizes the office of a full-time or mainstay prelate and the former only serves as the temporary head of a/an (arch)diocese while a successor is not yet installed into office therefore he can only use the chair reserved for the main celebrant of a mass.