Sede vacante
For the belief in the invalidity of the post-Vatican II papacy, see Sedevacantism.
Sede vacante (Latin for “the seat being vacant”) is the period during which a Catholic diocese or archdiocese has no prelate in office, with the prelate's office being the cathedral.
The term is most commonly used to describe the interval between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor, when the Holy See is temporarily without a pope.
During a sede vacante, the normal authority of the bishop or pope is suspended, and limited governance is carried out according to church law until a new officeholder is installed.
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