The modern popes: Get to know the 11 popes before Francis April 30, 2025By Russell Shaw OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News The following is a snapshot of the papacies of the 11 popes that preceded Pope Francis, from Pope Benedict XVI to Blessed Pope Pius IX.
Bologna cardinal known for dialogue, peacemaking, promoting laity April 30, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, News, Vatican, World News Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, the Rome-born president of the Italian bishops’ conference, is frequently mentioned as a probable candidate for pope.
Italian nuncio uses ‘weapons’ of charity, truth serving in warzones April 30, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, News, Vatican, World News Nearing 80 years old, Italian Cardinal Mario Zenari has spent the past 16 years in the wartorn nation of Syria as papal nuncio.
All the pope’s women: How Francis’ legacy is shaping the next chapter of the church April 30, 2025By Ines San Martin OSV News Filed Under: News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, Vocations, World News While much of the world’s attention is on what will happen in the Sistine Chapel and the men who will choose the church’s next leader starting May 7, the enduring legacy of Pope Francis is seen in the women whose voices helped shape — and carry forward — his vision.
True faith is found in compassion, not just creed, cardinal says April 29, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, Feature, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News True discipleship is not measured by the creeds Christians recite or the theology they know, but by how deeply they love, a cardinal said at a memorial Mass for Pope Francis.
Vatican drivers, staff to swear oath of secrecy ahead of conclave April 29, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, News, Vatican, World News One by one, placing a right hand on the Book of Gospels, staff driving, cooking, cleaning and caring for the cardinals who will elect a new pope will swear an oath of perpetual secrecy about the election of the 266th successor of St. Peter.
Cardinal says he will obey late pope’s sanctions, not enter conclave April 29, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who lost the rights associated with being a cardinal after Pope Francis asked him to resign in 2020, said he would obey the late pope’s wishes and not seek to enter the conclave May 7.
Over-80 cardinals still have role to play in choosing next pope April 29, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, Feature, News, Vatican, World News When the conclave begins May 7, there will be 117 cardinals who will not be allowed into the Sistine Chapel to take part in the voting process that chooses the next pope.
Cardinals must choose a pope who can guide, sustain world, cardinal says April 28, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, Feature, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News The Catholic Church and all of humanity want guidance and support in a world filled with toil, doubts and contradictions, said Cardinal Baldassare Reina, papal vicar of Rome.
On electing a pope: 10 frequently asked questions answered April 28, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, Feature, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News The world’s cardinals under the age of 80 will gather to elect the successor of Pope Francis, who died April 21 from a stroke and heart failure. The conclave is scheduled to begin May 7.
Papal elections at a glance: Curiosities about age, nationality, firsts and lasts April 28, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News Ambrogio Piazzoni, then-vice prefect of the Vatican Library and author of a book on the history of papal elections, distributed a sheet of “some curiosities” about the elections to reporters in 2013, after Pope Benedict announced his resignation and before Pope Francis was elected.
Past conclaves give idea of when to watch for smoke from Sistine Chapel April 28, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: 2025 Conclave, News, Remembering Pope Francis, Vatican, World News The cardinals who enter the Sistine Chapel May 7 to elect a new pope use smoke signals to communicate with the outside world.
