Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis
(First edition, 2000)
FIRST STATION
IN THE HOUSE OF THE DECEASED PONTIFF
Certification of Death
20. Upon receiving news of the death of the Supreme Pontiff from the Prefect of the Papal Household, the Cardinal Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, the Substitute of the Secretariat of State, the Master of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, the Cleric Prelates of the Apostolic Camera, as well as the relatives and family members of the Roman Pontiff, go together to the deceased's room with the Doctor, Director of Health Services of the Vatican City State, who is responsible for certifying death (cf. Universi Dominici Gregis, n. 17).
21. The Cardinal Camerlengo strengthens the faith of those present by blessing God:
Cf. 2 Cor 1:3; Rom 14:7–8
Benedictus Deus,
Pater misericordiarum
et Deus totius consolatiónis;
nemo nostrum sibi vivit,
et nemo sibi móritur,
sive ergo vivimus sive mórimur
filii eius semper sumus.
R. Benedictus Deus in sæcula.
Blessed be God,
the Father of mercies
and the God of all consolation.
None of us lives for oneself,
and none of us dies for oneself;
if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord.
So then, whether we live or die,
we are the Lord’s.
R. Blessed be God forever.
22. The Doctor, Director of the Health Services of the Vatican City State, draws up a report on the examination of the body of the Supreme Pontiff and on the confirmation of his death, carried out by himself or by the board of doctors, and on the cause that provoked it and reads it to those present.
23. The Cardinal Camerlengo declares:
Pastor noster, Románus Pontifex N.
cum Christo mortuus est.
Firmiter crédimus quia simul cum Christo vivet.
Nam, si complantáti facti sumus
similitudini mortis eius,
sed et resurrectionis érimus (Rom 6, 5).
Our Shepherd, the Roman Pontiff N. [name of the Pope],
has died in Christ.
We firmly believe that he will live with Christ.
For “if we have been united with him
in a death like his,
we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Rom 6:5).
24. After a moment of silence, the Cardinal Camerlengo invites those present to prayer with these words:
Preces nostras Deo Patri fundamus,
qui sua imperscrutabili providentia
sanctæ Ecclésiæ Pastorem N.
ex hac vita ad se revocavit.
Let us offer our prayers to God the Father,
who in his inscrutable providence
has called to himself from this life
the Shepherd of the holy Church, N. [name of the Pope].
Then the responsory is said or sung.
Subvenite, Sancti Dei, occúrrite, Angeli Dómini:
Suscipiéntes ánimam eius: *
Offeréntes eam in conspectu Altissimi.
Suscipiat te Christus, qui vocávit te:
et in sinum Abrahæ Angeli deducant te.
Suscipiéntes ánimam eius: *
Offeréntes eam in conspectu Altissimi.
Réquiem ætérnam dona ei, Dómine,
et lux perpétua luceat ei.
Offeréntes eam in conspectu Altissimi.
Come help, saints of God; hurry, angels of the Lord
Taking up his soul
and offering it before the eyes of the Most High.
May Christ, who has called you, receive you,
and may the angels lead you to the bosom of Abraham.
Taking up his soul
and offering it before the eyes of the Most High.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
Taking up his soul
and offering it before the eyes of the Most High.
25. The Cardinal Camerlengo invites all to prayer, saying:
Oremus:
Let us pray.
And all pray for a moment in silence. Then he continues:
Tibi, Dómine, commendamus
fámulum tuum Papam nostrum N.
quem Ecclésiæ tuæ præésse voluisti,
ut defunctus sæculo tibi vivat,
et quæ, per fragilitatem humanæ conversationis,
peccáta commisit,
tu vénia misericordissimæ pietatis abstérge.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
R. Amen.
We commend to you, O Lord,
your faithful servant, our Pope N. [name of the Pope],
whom you willed to be the shepherd of your Church,
that, having left this world, he may live in you.
In your mercy blot out the sins he committed
through the frailty of human nature,
and grant him pardon and peace.
Through Christ our Lord.
26. Then the "Salve, Regina" or another antiphon to the Blessed Virgin Mary is sung or said, to whom the Pontiff often recommended the hour of his death during his life.
27. The Secretary-Chancellor of the Apostolic Camera draws up the authentic death certificate, to which he attaches the certificate from the Doctor, the Director of Health Services of the Vatican City State.
28. The Doctor, Director of Health Services of the Vatican City State, arranges everything for the perfect preservation of the body of the Supreme Pontiff so that the exposition of the body takes place with the utmost decorum and respect. Under the supervision and responsibility of the Master of Liturgical Celebrations, the body of the Supreme Pontiff is vested in red pontifical vestments, similar to those used in the celebration of the Mass, along with the pastoral cross, miter, and pallium.
