Ritual specifies who does what when pope dies

Like the ceremonial formalities that surrounded Pope John Paul II in life, his death has set in motion an elaborate choreography of centuries-old ritual. The formal process of papal succession is set in motion by Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, a 77-year-old veteran of the Vatican curia who serves as the camerlengo, or papal chamberlain.

By John Rivera

April 3, 2005