Despite Pope Francis remaining hospitalized in Rome, the pontiff is still very much in charge of the Catholic Church. Still, Francis' hospital stay is raising obvious questions about what happens if he loses consciousness for a prolonged period or whether he might follow in Pope Benedict XVI's footsteps and resign if he becomes unable to lead.

Pope Francis has come down with a serious illness that could potentially force him to resign, but who would succeed him?

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