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The Catholic Church in Lebanon Congratulates Pope Leo XIV

This is Beirut, 14:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops Pope

The Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon extended its congratulations to the new pope, Leo XIV, elected on May 8, 2025, praising him as “a shepherd chosen to lead the Church in these times of challenge and hope.” In a statement, Lebanon’s Catholic spiritual leaders, patriarchs, bishops and heads of religious orders ...

Black Smoke from Sistine Chapel Chimney, Cardinals to Vote Again

This is Beirut, 08/05 13:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Vatican Pope Conclave

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 ?

This is Beirut, 08/05 11:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Vatican Conclave Pope

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

This is Beirut, 08/05 10:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Vatican Conclave 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 ...

Cardinals Hold Last Mass Before Conclave to Elect Pope

This is Beirut, 07/05 11:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Cardinals from five continents held a final mass in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Wednesday before sealing themselves away to elect a new pope to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. A total of 133 cardinal electors are expected to take part in the conclave, the voting process to pick a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month ...

Doves, Deaths and Rations: Papal Elections Over Time

This is Beirut, 07/05 09:35 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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Cardinals electing Pope Francis's successor will have an easier time than many of their predecessors, who endured spartan conditions and were even locked up so long that some of them died. Here are some notable papal elections through the ages. The dove decides In 236, the Christian community of Rome was debating potential papal candidates ...

16 Potential Successors to Pope Francis

This is Beirut, 05/05 11:05 - Reading : 8 minute(s)

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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

This is Beirut, 05/05 09:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

vatican church pope Conclave

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 ...

Pietro Parolin, Career Diplomat Leading Race to be Pope

This is Beirut, 30/04 10:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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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 ...

Electing a New Pope: Glossary of Key Terms

This is Beirut, 28/04 11:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Pope Francis Vatican Pope

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 ...

Vatican Braces for Huge Crowds Ahead of Pope's Funeral

This is Beirut, 25/04 09:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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The Vatican will make final preparations Friday for Pope Francis's funeral as the last of the huge crowds of mourners file through St Peter's Basilica to view his open coffin. Many of the 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs attending Saturday's ceremony in St Peter's Square, who include US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr ...

Pope Recognizes 'God's Architect' Gaudi as 'Venerable'

This is Beirut, 14/04 17:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Vatican Architecture Gaudi God's architect Pope Culture

The Catholic Church has put Antoni Gaudi, the designer of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica nicknamed "God's architect", on the path to sainthood, the Vatican said Monday. Pope Francis recognized the Catalan architect's "heroic virtues" and authorized a decree declaring him "venerable", the Vatican said in a statement. This acknowledgement ...

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