If there was ever going to be an American pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost — now Leo XIV — was probably going to be it. Still, as someone who covered the previous two conclaves and the latter ...

Another crossroads for modern Catholicism occurred following the death of Pope Pius XII in October 1958. The cardinals opted for what they thought was a “caretaker” pope, 76-year-old Angelo ...

Like the other ceremonies and traditions that accompany the advent of a new pope, his newly chosen name will be imbued with centuries of Catholic history and dissected for its many layers of meaning.

Pope Francis, the former Argentinian cardinal who often bucked age-old Vatican traditions in favor of more modern yet humble approaches, died after an extended respiratory illness on April 21, the ...

The previous pope, Pius X, had mandated in 1904 that all papers related to the election, not just the ballots, be burned, "thus producing a great deal more white smoke for the final ballot and ...

From a portable throne carried on the shoulders of attendants to state-of-the-art electric cars, the pope’s means of transportation have evolved considerably over the years.

Pope Francis took one last ride in a Mercedes before death. History of the 'popemobile.' One of the first motorized popemobiles was a black Graham-Paige Type 837, gifted to Pope Pius XI in 1929.

Catholic cardinals are gathering at the Vatican for the 2025 conclave to choose Pope Francis' successor. Here's how long it could take.

In 1271, following the death of Pope Clement IV, the voting process took nearly three years, with reforms enacted after that vote. The shortest conclave ever, according to the Vatican, took place ...

Immediate actions and formal mourning. Pope Francis' death sets into motion a series of formalized rites and observances that occur during what is called the interregnum, which begins upon the ...

Pope Francis, orginally of Argentina, succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope to retire in six centuries. Pope Francis, 266th occupant of the throne of St. Peter, has died Skip to main content ...