Global media outlets, including CNN, CBS and NBC, are getting ready to descend upon Rome and Vatican City following reports that Pope Francis is in critical condition. Logistical aspects such as renting terrace space to get the best camera angles of St.

Pope Francis is in critical condition with a complex lung infection and anemia, receiving treatment in a Rome hospital.

Time-honored rituals, drafted and refined over centuries, allow for ritual mourning and provide order at a dramatic moment of transition.

The death of a pope triggers a series of ancient traditions, some dating back to the Roman Empire. Here’s what would unfold if Pope Francis were to pass away.