Sede vacante

Sede vacante is a term in Catholic canon law that means "the seat being empty." It is used when a diocese or archdiocese has no prelate installed in office. This often happens when a Pope dies or resigns. During this time, the Holy See is run by the Camerlengo and cardinals. In the Diocese of Rome, the empty seat is the cathedra of Saint John Lateran, the main church of the Bishop of Rome.
 periods since 1799
 Preceding Pope  Subsequent Pope  Beginning  Ending  DurationAs is usual in English, in canon law also (Code of Canon Law, canon 203), the initial day is not counted in calculating the length of a period, unless the period began with the beginning of the day. Pius VI  Pius VII  29 August 1799  14 March 1800  197 days Pius VII  Leo XII  20 August 1823  28 September 1823  39 days Leo XII  Pius VIII  10 February 1829  31 March 1829  49 days Pius VIII  Gregory XVI  30 November 1830  2 February 1831  63 days Gregory XVI  Pius IX  1 June 1846  16 June 1846  15 days Pius IX  Leo XIII  7 February 1878  20 February 1878  13 days Leo XIII  Pius X  20 July 1903  4 August 1903  15 days Pius X  Benedict XV  20 August 1914  3 September 1914  14 days Benedict XV  Pius XI  22 January 1922  6 February 1922  15 days Pius XI  Pius XII  10 February 1939  2 March 1939  20 days Pius XII  John XXIII  9 October 1958  28 October 1958  19 days John XXIII  Paul VI  3 June 1963  21 June 1963  18 days Paul VI  John Paul I  6 August 1978  26 August 1978  20 days John Paul I  John Paul II  28 September 1978  16 October 1978  18 days John Paul II  Benedict XVI  2 April 2005  19 April 2005  17 days Benedict XVI  Francis  28 February 2013  13 March 2013  13 days Francis  Leo XIV  21 April 2025  8 May 2025  17 days

 Related pages 
 Papal conclave
 Camerlengo (Catholic Church)
 Interregnum

 Notes 

 References  

 Other websites 

Category:Vatican City
Category:Roman Catholicism