Pope Francis has died at 88 after leading the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years. His death triggers the traditional process of electing a new Pope.

Axar.az, citing BBC, reports that the Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and is seen as the spiritual successor to St. Peter.

He has authority over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide and lives in Vatican City. What's next?

Funeral and Burial:
Pope Francis requested a simpler funeral than previous pontiffs. He will be buried in a zinc-lined wooden coffin at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome—outside the Vatican, which is unusual.

Choosing a New Pope:
The College of Cardinals (currently 138 eligible voters) will hold a conclave in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor. The process is secret and could take days. White smoke from the chapel chimney signals a successful election.

Announcement:
Once a new Pope is elected, he is introduced from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica with the words “Habemus Papam” (“We have a Pope”), followed by his chosen papal name.

Eligibility:
Any baptized Roman Catholic man is eligible, but cardinals usually elect one of their own. Although Pope Francis was from Argentina, most Popes historically have been Italian.