Who’s running the Catholic church? Pope Officially Steps Down

VATICAN CITY – Its official, the Catholic Church is now without a pope. With no pope, who’s running the Catholic Church? The moment Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy, all the Vatican’s department heads lost their positions and the Vatican entered into what is called the “sede vacante”, also known as the “vacant see.”

Within the next 20 days, Cardinals will begin the process of choosing another pope from among their ranks. Until that time, there are a few individuals which will be handling the affairs of the Holy See.

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These key individuals will guide the College of Cardinals while they are deliberating and organizing the conclave in preparation to elect the resigning pope’s successor.

The top church position that takes over the daily affairs of the Holy See is called the Camerlengo. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone currently holds this position. There are three other church leaders who have the responsibility of orchestrating and assisting the conclave of Cardinals during their historic selection of the next pope.

These church leaders are Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Monsignor Guido Marini, and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.

On the Web:
WITH NO POPE AT THE HELM, WHO’S RUNNING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS?
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/03/01/with-no-pope-at-the-helm-whos-running-the-catholic-church-for-the-next-few-weeks/