Legal Definitions - sede vacante

Sede vacante is a Latin term that literally translates to "the seat being vacant." It refers to a period when a high office, position, or benefice is temporarily without an incumbent, meaning the previous officeholder has departed, and a successor has not yet been appointed or elected. During a period of sede vacante, specific rules or protocols often govern the interim administration and the process for filling the vacancy.

• Example 1 (Ecclesiastical Office): When a Pope dies or resigns, the period before a new Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals is known as sede vacante. During this time, the ordinary governance of the Catholic Church is suspended, and specific interim procedures are followed, such as the Camerlengo managing the temporal goods of the Holy See, until a new pontiff is chosen.

  Explanation: This illustrates sede vacante because the "seat" of the papacy is empty, and the Church operates under special interim rules until a new leader is in place.

• Example 2 (Corporate Leadership): After the sudden resignation of a major technology company's CEO, the board of directors announced that the company would be in a period of sede vacante while they conducted a thorough search for a new chief executive. An interim CEO was appointed to manage daily operations, but no major strategic decisions or acquisitions would be made until a permanent leader was in place.

  Explanation: Here, sede vacante describes the time when the top leadership position (CEO) is vacant, necessitating temporary management and a pause on significant long-term decisions until a permanent successor is found.

• Example 3 (Governmental Office): Following the impeachment and removal of a state governor, the lieutenant governor immediately assumed the acting governorship. However, the state constitution stipulated that if the office of governor became permanently vacant, a special election must be held. The period between the governor's removal and the swearing-in of the newly elected governor could be described as a sede vacante for the permanent gubernatorial office, even with an acting official in place.

  Explanation: This example shows sede vacante applying to a high governmental office. Even with an acting official, the permanent "seat" is vacant, triggering constitutional procedures for a new, elected officeholder.