Sede vacante in Canon Law refers to the vacancy of an Episcopal See of a particular church and especially that of the Papacy. It is Latin for “the seat being vacant", the seat in question being the Bishop’s throne (cathedra) in his particular church (diocese).
As regards the Papacy, only by the event of death or resignation does the Holy See enter a period of sede vacante. At that point, the particular church which becomes vacant is the Diocese of Rome and the vacant seat is that of the cathedra of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome. During this period, the Holy See is administered by the College of Cardinals but in a very limited capacity.
Also, during this time, all the Prefects and Directors of the Congregations and agencies of the Roman Curia cease to exercise their offices.
The two 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. 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 overseas, and both the Vicar General of Rome and the Vicar General for the Vatican City State continue to exercise their pastoral role during this period.
Customarily, the Post Office of the Vatican City State prepares and issues special stamps for use during this particular period, known as "sede vacante stamps".
The coat of arms of the Holy See also changes. The papal tiara over the keys is replaced with the ombrellino (the canopy, one of the symbols of a basilica church). This symbolizes both the lack of a Pope and the governance of the Camerlengo over the temporalities of the Holy See. Moreover, the Camerlengo ornaments his personal coat of arms with this symbol, which he subsequently removes once a new Pope is elected.
If the former Pope died, the interregnum is usually highlighted by the Funeral Mass and culminates in the Conclave to elect a successor. 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. After twenty days have elapsed, they must hold the Conclave, even if some Cardinals are missing.
Days before his resignation in February 2013, Benedict XVI amended the rules to allow the Cardinals to begin the conclave sooner, if all electors were present.
Historically, sede vacante periods have often been quite lengthy, lasting many months, or even years, due to lengthy deadlocked conclaves. The most recent period of sede vacante of the Holy See began on 28 February 2013, after the resignation of Benedict XVI and ended on 13 March 2013 with the election of Pope Francis, a period of 13 days.
The longest period without a Pope was the approximately six months from the death in prison of Pius VI in 1799 and the election of Pius VII in Venice in 1800.
A disturbing issue still facing the Church is the state in which the Holy See would find itself should the Pope become mentally incapable of governing the Church, as in the case of falling into a prolonged vegetative state.
Canon law makes no provision for the removal of a Pope except through his own free choice to resign.
Without a Pope able to give assent to decisions for an extended period of time, Bishops could not be appointed and teaching documents on faith and morals could not be issued.
The long-term risk would be paralysis in the governance of the Church.
This represents a "hole" (lacuna) in Church Law.
Given today’s medical regimen and procedures which could extend the life of a Pope in a vegetative state, there is serious need for Pope Francis to appoint a panel of canon lawyers and experts on the Papacy to work out a system for declaring the See of Peter vacant in such a situation.
Whether or not the Holy Father will see the immediacy and urgency of the issue is another question altogether. Pope Saint John Paul II did not.
What might happen in the meantime if this happens?
The initial impulse would be to continue routine Church business along the lines already indicated by the Pope, deferring new challenges or questions.
Yet, how long that strategy would work against the force of changing circumstances, especially the need for Bishops in dioceses, would be impossible to predict.
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