Who is Making Decisions in the Absence of a Pope? 👀🕊️ (The Patrick Madrid Show)

John from Illinois called in with a big question: Because Pope Francis has passed away, who’s running things at the Vatican in the meantime? 🤔⛪     🧑‍⚖️ Who's in Charge When There's No Pope?   When a pope dies, things don’t go totally dark... but they do hit the brakes, hard.   -The machinery of the Apostolic See basically grinds to a halt.(Think of it like putting the Vatican on “pause mode.” 🎛️🛑)   -Enter the Camerlengo (Italian for Chamberlain), currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, appointed by Pope Francis (RIP).   His job is to oversee essential matters, like the transfer of the Pope’s body.     💼 What Keeps Going vs. What Freezes?   Still running:   -Basic operations in Vatican City (lights on, plumbing working, etc...)   -Routine roles that don’t require papal authority.   Frozen solid:   -Naming new bishops or cardinals    -Lifting papal-reserved excommunications 🚫   -Big decisions like future World Youth Day locations 🌍   -Canonizations 😇   -Anything else that needs a pope’s personal say-so.   Basically, if it involves a signature that only the Holy Father can scribble, it’s not happening right now.     🗳️ So, How Does the Next Pope Get Picked?   Patrick reminds us that no pope can hand-pick his successor (even if he whispers it to someone behind closed doors 😏). The next Holy Father is chosen by the College of Cardinals, who gather in a conclave and pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.     Patrick took us on a nostalgic trip through the papal timeline:   -Most younger folks only really know Pope Francis.   -A bit older? You remember Pope Benedict.   -Older still? Pope St. John Paul II, elected in '78.   -Some even remember the super-short 33-day reign of Pope John Paul I.   As Patrick put it: memory fades, but the Church marches on. It’s been 2000 years, 266 popes, and counting... each one a successor of St. Peter. 🪨✝️     What Happens Next?   We wait. The cardinals will convene, the white smoke will rise, and we’ll get a new Holy Father. Until then, the Church is calm, reverent, and steady. 🌅   May we all trust in the Holy Spirit's guidance and maybe brush up on our pope trivia while we’re at it. 📚🧠   The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.