Sede vacante

The umbraculum, the arms of the Holy See under 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.

Sede vacante periods since 1799

Preceding Pope	Subsequent Pope	Beginning	Ending	Duration
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