Pope Francis

Ballot burning times: when to watch for white smoke

on 7 may, a total of 133 cardinals – the highest number ever – entered the sistine chapel to begin the papal conclave, the secretive voting ...
The Catholic Herald

Black smoke after conclave's first ballot

after a long wait among the expectant crowds gathered in st peter's square – so much so that rumours had started to build – black smoke fina...
The Catholic Herald

Cardinal Nichols takes solemn oath of secrecy before first conclave vote

the head of catholics in england and wales has taken the solemn oath of secrecy inside the sistine chapel as the conclave to select the succ...
The Catholic Herald

Top cardinal prays for a pope who can ‘awaken' world's conscience

one of the most senior cardinals has stressed the importance of unity and prayed that the conclave will bestow a new pontiff who reminds the...
Elise Allen

Relations with Israel at historic low as Holy See awaits new pope

as the cardinals of the catholic church gather in conclave for the election of a successor to pope francis, various issues facing the vatica...
Charles Collins

Cardinal Nichols releases pre-conclave reflections

cardinal vincent nichols, archbishop of westminster and president of the catholic bishops’ conference of england and wales, is one of three ...
The Catholic Herald

Cardinals' deliberations end as conclave and discernment begins

after holding their last pre-conclave meeting on tuesday morning, the cardinals who will elect the next pope had less than a day to weigh th...
Elise Allen

In Rome’s shadows, smoke and speculation: the conclave’s political ballet begins

i find myself back in rome. more than three years have passed since my last visit, but the place seems barely to have changed: steadfast; gr...
Miles Pattenden

Does the Holy Spirit choose the Pope? Pope Benedict’s surprising answer

there is an odd but prevalent fascination with the catholic church’s claim to miraculous divine intervention. the dogma of papal infallibili...
Gavin Ashenden

How should a conflicted Catholic pray for the papacy this conclave?

the bells of rome have tolled. the see of peter stands empty once more. with the death of pope francis, who reigned from 2013 to 2025, the c...
Tom Colsy