Sede vacante

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sede-vacante

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is Sede vacante?Nearly three years (13th century)
2. What is the canonical term?Sede vacante
3. What is the primary trigger?Death or resignation of the Pope
4. What does 'sede vacante' mean?It means the Pope's seat is empty. This happens when there is no Pope in the Catholic Church.
5. Why does the Pope's seat become empty?The seat becomes empty when the Pope dies or resigns. Then the Church enters a special time called 'sede vacante'.

Canon Law: The body of laws and regulations made by or for the Church.
Apostolic Constitution: A formal document issued by the Pope that defines doctrine or regulates Church affairs.
Camerlengo: The cardinal responsible for managing the temporal goods of the Holy See during a sede vacante.
Episcopal See: The jurisdiction of a bishop, typically centered in a cathedral.