Vatican

Papal Election and Contemporary Challenges

The election of Robert Francis Prevost as bishop of Rome is a powerful indicator of the Catholic Church's ability to reform its bi-millennial odyssey and reinterpret its ecclesiology to make it adjust to the challenges of contemporary ministries in a global world. The changing of the theological and ecclesiological paradigms is a Church ...

Pope Leo XIV to Begin Pontificate with Inauguration Mass on May 18

The inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV will take place on Sunday, May 18, in St. Peter's Square, the Vatican announced. World leaders are expected to gather for the event, held 10 days after the election of Robert Francis Prevost as the first US head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. The new pontiff will meet with journalists on Monday and ...

Black Smoke from Sistine Chapel Chimney, Cardinals to Vote Again

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 ?

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

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 ...

Black Smoke: Cardinals Fail to Elect New Pope on First Try

Thick black smoke emerged Wednesday from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in a sign that cardinals had failed to elect a new head of the Catholic Church in their first conclave vote. Tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square to await the smoke, which came around three hours and 15 minutes after the 133 cardinals were closed ...

Cardinals Hold Last Mass Before Conclave to Elect Pope

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 ...