Pope Francis

Pope Francis

Reactions to the election of Pope Leo XIV
Reactions to the election of Pope Leo XIV

Worldwide reaction to the election of the new pope, the American Leo XIV, has been swift.   President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the election of new Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States, as a "great honor" for the country. "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It ...

Prevost becomes first US pope as Leo XIV
Prevost becomes first US pope as Leo XIV

Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the United States on Thursday, picking the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals from around the world elected him leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Tens of thousands of people packed in St Peter's Square cheered as Prevost appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, waving with both ...

Black Smoke from Sistine Chapel Chimney, Cardinals to Vote Again
Black Smoke from Sistine Chapel Chimney, Cardinals to Vote Again

Thick black smoke billowed Thursday from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in a sign that cardinals again failed to elect a new head of the Catholic Church. Among the thousands of Catholics and curious tourists massed in St. Peter's Square, there was applause but also sighs at the result, which came after the second and third ballots. The ...

How Much Does the Conclave Cost ?
How Much Does the Conclave Cost ?

Cardinals from all over the world began voting Wednesday to elect a new pope – but what's the cost of finding a new leader for the Catholic Church? The Holy See has not disclosed how much the conclave will weigh on its shaky finances. But arranging it is understood to be an expensive affair, running into the millions of euros. More ...

Cardinals Enter Second Day of Conclave to Elect New Pope
SpotlightCardinals Enter Second Day of Conclave to Elect New Pope

Anticipation gripped the Catholic world Thursday as the cardinals tasked with choosing a new pope prepared to retreat behind the heavy doors of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel for their second day of voting. A plume of black smoke rose over the crowds thronging St. Peter's Square late Wednesday, confirming that the conclave's first ballot had not ...

When Smoke Becomes Symbol: The Subtle Art of Papal Election
When Smoke Becomes Symbol: The Subtle Art of Papal Election

When Catholic cardinals vote in the conclave, they then burn their ballots, sending up black smoke to signal no decision or white smoke to show they have chosen a new pope. The centuries-old tradition of using smoke has changed over time -- as has the technology used. Gunshot All conclaves bar one have taken place in Rome since the 15th ...

Cardinals to Move Into Vatican on Eve of Conclave to Elect New Pope
Cardinals to Move Into Vatican on Eve of Conclave to Elect New Pope

Cardinals will on Tuesday begin moving into the Vatican accommodation where they will stay during the conclave, on the eve of their historic, secretive meeting to elect a new pope. Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 133 cardinal electors will gather on Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel for an election that could last hours, days, or ...

Francis's Popemobile Converted Into Clinic for Gazan Children
Francis's Popemobile Converted Into Clinic for Gazan Children

Before his death, Pope Francis donated one of his popemobiles to be converted into a children's clinic in war-torn Gaza, Catholic charity Caritas said on Monday. The iconic open-sided vehicle, designed to allow the pontiff to greet crowds of well-wishers, has been transferred to Caritas Jerusalem and will head to Gaza if and when Israel opens a ...

Electing a New Pope: Glossary of Key Terms
ExplainerElecting a New Pope: Glossary of Key Terms

Cardinals will gather on May 7 in a conclave in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Here is a brief glossary of the event's key terms: - Camerlengo: Between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor, the cardinal camerlengo takes over the day to day running of the Vatican. Dublin-born Kevin Farrell, ...

16 Potential Successors to Pope Francis
Spotlight16 Potential Successors to Pope Francis

With no official campaigning or list of candidates and the election process shrouded in secrecy, speculation about who will succeed Pope Francis after the conclave beginning this week remains just that -- speculation. But here are 15 cardinals who are among the potential favourites to succeed Pope Francis -- so-called "papabili" -- divided by ...

Catholic Church's Direction in the Balance as Conclave Looms
Catholic Church's Direction in the Balance as Conclave Looms

Catholic cardinals will enter a sealed conclave this week to choose a new pope, with the Church's 1.4 billion members holding their breath over an uncertain outcome. Around 133 "Princes of the Church" will meet Wednesday to elect from among their number a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21 aged 88. At issue is whether the new ...

End of the Mourning Period at the Vatican Following the Death of Pope Francis
End of the Mourning Period at the Vatican Following the Death of Pope Francis

A mass held on Sunday late afternoon at St. Peter's Basilica marked the end of the nine days of mourning observed at the Vatican following the death of Pope Francis, AFP reported. The mourning period began on Saturday, April 26, the day of his grand funeral attended by a massive crowd, as well as heads of state and royalty, who came to pay ...

Workers Install Chimney Atop Sistine Chapel for Conclave
Workers Install Chimney Atop Sistine Chapel for Conclave

Firefighters at the Vatican installed a chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel to be used during the conclave that begins May 7, an AFP reporter witnessed Friday. Cardinals vote in secret in the chapel for a new pope and reveal to the waiting world the outcome by burning the ballots in a special stove, with the chimney emitting black smoke if no ...

Africa's Cardinal Turkson is Continent's Papal Frontrunner
PortraitAfrica's Cardinal Turkson is Continent's Papal Frontrunner

Ghana's Cardinal Peter Turkson is seen as one of the Church's most influential men from Africa, where Christianity is quickly growing -- and which some believe could be the birthplace of the next pope. The 76-year-old born into a humble family of 10 children is the first clergyman from the west African country to receive a red hat, having been ...

Pietro Parolin, Career Diplomat Leading Race to be Pope
PortraitPietro Parolin, Career Diplomat Leading Race to be Pope

A seasoned diplomat who worked with Pope Francis for 12 years, Cardinal Pietro Parolin is well-known in Rome and abroad, and a serious contender to be the next pontiff. The 70-year-old Italian was Secretary of State -- the Vatican's effective number two -- for almost the entire Francis pontificate, and its most visible exponent on the world ...

Filipino Cardinal, the ‘Asian Francis’, Is Papal Contender
Filipino Cardinal, the ‘Asian Francis’, Is Papal Contender

Asia's front-runner for the papacy, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines is a charismatic moderate often dubbed the "Asian Francis". Tagle, 67, who shares with Pope Francis a history of advocating for the poor, migrants and other marginalized people, is known for his missionary spirit and pastoral focus. Wearing glasses ...

 Everything You Need to Know Before the May 7 Conclave
Everything You Need to Know Before the May 7 Conclave

Where and when will the conclave be held? Who will vote? How will voting take place in strict secrecy in the Sistine Chapel? On May 7, 135 cardinals will gather to elect Pope Francis' successor, in an age-old process marked by tradition and mystery.

Hilarius or Simplicius, the Papal Name Dilemma
ReportHilarius or Simplicius, the Papal Name Dilemma

From Pius to Clement, Hilarius to Simplicius, papal names through the centuries are inextricably linked to the brilliant or wretched legacies of the men who have ruled the Vatican. Cardinals who will elect a new pontiff following the death of Pope Francis will already be mulling over the name they would choose if they were picked. Very little ...

Electing a New Pope: Glossary of Key Terms
Electing a New Pope: Glossary of Key Terms

Cardinals will take part in a conclave in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Here is a brief glossary of the event's key terms: - Camerlengo: Between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor, the cardinal camerlengo takes over the day to day running of the Vatican. Dublin-born Kevin Farrell, appointed by ...

Cardinals Set to Pick Conclave Date to Elect New Pope
Cardinals Set to Pick Conclave Date to Elect New Pope

Red-hatted cardinals were expected to pick a date Monday for the conclave to elect a new leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, following the death of Pope Francis. Dozens of so-called "Princes of the Church" from across the world have been gathering at the Vatican since the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff died on April 21. But so far there ...

All Eyes Turn to Conclave After Pope Francis's Funeral
All Eyes Turn to Conclave After Pope Francis's Funeral

With Pope Francis laid to rest, all eyes turn now to the conclave, the secretive meeting of cardinals set to convene within days to elect a new head of the Catholic Church. Alongside world leaders and reigning monarchs, an estimated 400,000 people turned out on Saturday for the Argentine pontiff's funeral at the Vatican and burial in Rome. The ...

Hundreds of Thousands at Funeral for Pope 'With an Open Heart'
Hundreds of Thousands at Funeral for Pope 'With an Open Heart'

Hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, packed St. Peter's Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, "pope among the people" and the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader. Some waited overnight to get a seat for the ceremony, with the Vatican reporting some ...

Huge Crowds Flock To Vatican for Pope Francis's Funeral
Huge Crowds Flock To Vatican for Pope Francis's Funeral

Tens of thousands of mourners flooded into St. Peter's Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the champion of the poor and the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader. Some people waited overnight to be first in the queue for the ceremony, which will be attended by world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's ...