Pope's Death Triggers Scripted Ritual

[Kire]

Pope's Death Triggers Scripted Ritual
Sat Apr 2, 5:21 PM ET


By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY - The death of Pope John Paul II triggered a carefully scripted ritual that will culminate in the election of a new leader for the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics.

Rome's church bells tolled in mourning. Vatican flags were lowered to half staff. Heavy chains blocked the door of the papal palace to signify the interregnum has begun.

It was the start of a process outlined by John Paul in a 1996 document, "Universi Dominici Gregis"("Of the Lord's Whole Flock"), which lays out procedures for Vatican officials in handling a pope's death and sets the voting rules for selecting a successor.

In announcing John Paul's death Saturday night, the Vatican said the document's provisions "have been put in motion."

More: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=518&e=2&u=/ap/pope_what_next