Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at age 88 after complications from a stroke and heart failure. Cardinals under 80 will vote in a closed conclave at the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. Black ...

Black smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday and again Thursday morning indicated that a new pope had not yet been chosen to replace Pope Francis. Using smoke to communicate to the ...

Crowds cheer in St. Peter's Square as white smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on May 8, 2025, indicating the election of a new pope. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza) A few ...

Catholic cardinal electors from six continents gathered Wednesday inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican for the 2025 conclave to select a new pope. After the first round of voting, black smoke was ...

Anticipation gripped the Catholic world Thursday as the cardinals tasked with choosing a new pope prepared for their second ...

Cathleen Falsani, who covered two previous papal elections, sent a Hail Mary text from Ireland when she heard Chicago's own ...

UPDATE: (3:25 p.m.): Here he is. His first words to the faithful were: "It seems to me that my brothers and cardinals have chosen one who is from far away, but here I am." UPDATE (3:21 p.m.): ...

The world of Donald Trump, Elon Musk and similar believers in transactional reality has created a moral vacuum. There is an urgent need to find some moral authority to re-establish a balance. To that ...

King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom were received in a private audience by Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace this morning, Oct. 23, during a state visit to the Holy ...