Security experts say the operation to secure Pope Francis' funeral will be anything but uncomplicated and straightforward.

“Personal holiness is very important for the next pope,” Cardinal John Ribat told reporters as he exited Tuesday morning’s General Congregation. “He must be someone open and controlling ...

Pope Francis leads the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on September 30, 2015. (Photo by Eric Vandeville/Sipa USA via AP) With such statements, Francis may have appeared to ...

The College of Cardinals will convene a conclave to elect the next pope, a process involving secret ballots and a two-thirds majority vote. No pope has ever been from the United States ...

Pope Francis had a great sense of humor. When I met him once at the back of the papal plane, I cracked a joke with him that was a little bit close to the line. Luckily, he roared with laughter and ...

How is a new Pope chosen? That process will soon be front and center in the wake of the death of Pope Francis. It's called a conclave, and it involves a secret election and, eventually, the ...

a nationally recognized Pope Francis expert and professor of American Studies and History at the University of Notre Dame. “So, the proceedings of the conclave are secret,” Cummings tells ...

The pope was formally pronounced dead by the cardinal camerlengo — currently Irish-born American Kevin Farrell — who is one of the most important Vatican officials during the interregnum period.

The Pontifical Mission Societies USA is launching a prayer campaign to pray for the cardinals involved in the upcoming conclave as they prepare to elect the next pope. Monsignor Roger Landry ...