Death of the Pope and the Eucharistic Prayer

Since the 2002 GIRM #149 does not address what to do with the name of the pope or bishop during the Eucharistic Prayer in the event of the death of either, it may be good to remember the traditional practice of the Roman Rite as explicitly found in the 1965 'Rite to Be Observed during the Celebration of Mass,' #63:

Where he says: together with your servant N. our Pope, the celebrant expresses the name of the Pope. When the See is vacant, the preceding words are omitted. Where he says, and N. our Bishop, the name of the Bishop Ordinary of the diocese in which Mass is celebrated is specified....But if the Bishop Ordinary of the place in which Mass is celebrated has died, the preceding words are omitted.

Therefore, when the See of Peter is vacant, the prayer for unity with the Pope is omitted:

• In EP I: omit “N. our Pope”
• In EP II: omit “N. our Pope”
• In EP III: omit “your servant, Pope N.”
• In EP IV: omit “N. our Pope.”

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