News

A series of ancient traditions rule the pope's funeral and conclave
The death of Pope Francis sets into motion a series of rituals, some of which go back more than 2,000 years, including how to ...
What exactly is the conclave? Here's what to know about how the next pope is elected
Simply put, a conclave is the assembly of cardinals that elects a pope. The word itself comes from the Latin "com" and ...
Pope Will Lie in State for Three Days Before Funeral on Saturday
President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine are among the world leaders who plan to attend the funeral. The ...
What does the ‘white smoke’ mean? The history behind the signal that a new Pope has been elected
The famous ‘white smoke’ bellowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signals the election of a new Pope. The tradition ...
When will the conclave begin to elect the successor to Pope Francis?
Even though cardinals don’t campaign for the job, there are always front-runners going into a conclave to choose the next ...
Vatican transition, from vacant see to Habemus Papam
From the Vacant See to the day of Habemus Papam. The cardinal protodeacon, the most senior by appointment, will announce the ...
How Pope Francis’ early life in Argentina shines light on his time in the Vatican
Oscar Crespo was watching TV in his native Buenos Aires when he saw the white smoke appearing above the Sistine Chapel at the ...