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How is a pope’s death officially confirmed before the conclave begins?

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Cardinals of the Catholic Church, dressed in red, sit at long tables in the Sistine Chapel during the 2005 papal election conclave, surrounded by ornate frescoed walls. — papal conclave Cardinals assembled inside the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican Palace for a conclave to elect a new pope; Vatican City, 2005.

Upon the death of a pope, the cardinal camerlengo is responsible for officially verifying that the pontiff has passed away.

While historical traditions once involved calling the pope by his baptismal name three times while lightly striking his forehead with a silver hammer, this practice is no longer followed. Today, the confirmation process involves a medical doctor’s declaration of death, which must be formally written and signed by the camerlengo. The traditional ritual has been replaced by the simple act of drawing a veil over the deceased pope’s face.1

Once death is verified, the camerlengo announces the news to the cardinal vicar of Rome and the cardinal archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. The cardinal dean then informs the rest of the College of Cardinals, international ambassadors, and world leaders. Following these steps, the camerlengo secures the papal apartments and oversees the preparations for the funeral and the eventual papal conclave.12