The expression sede vacante refers to the vacancy of the Holy See, which occurs after the death or resignation of a pope. In this case the particular church is the Diocese of Rome and the "vacant seat" is the cathedra of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral church of the bishop of Rome. During this period, the Holy See is administered by a regency of the Camerlengo in line with the 1975 Romano Pontifici Eligendo of Pope Paul VI and emergency decree of Pope Pius XII.