At 9:45 a.m. on April 21, American Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the death of Pope Francis from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, where the late Holy Father resided for the duration of his 12-year papacy. Cardinal Farrell didn’t do so by chance.
International News
Bridging Continents: Kenyans Visit Queens School, Strengthen Bonds
Two Franciscan brothers from St. Francis Secondary School in Lare, Kenya recently visited Fresh Meadows, Queens to forge deeper bonds with their “sister school” — St. Francis Prep.
Vatican Drivers, Staff To Swear Oath of Secrecy Ahead of Conclave
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 267th successor of St. Peter.
Conclave Has Most Cardinals, Widest Geographical Mix in History
The conclave that begins May 7 is expected to be the largest in history, with a wide geographical mix of cardinal-electors.
Past Conclaves Give Idea of When To Watch for Smoke From Sistine Chapel
The cardinals who enter the Sistine Chapel May 7 to elect a new pope use smoke signals to communicate with the outside world.
At Jubilee of Teenagers, Grief Is Mingled With Joyful Hope for Church’s Future
For thousands of young teens who traveled to Rome for the Jubilee of Teenagers, the announcement of Pope Francis’ death came as a shock.
Cardinals, Faithful Flock to Rome’s Center To Pray at Pope’s Tomb
Members of the College of Cardinals had a chance to take a quick bus tour through Rome on their way to visit the tomb of Pope Francis, who wanted to be buried in a Marian basilica three and a half miles from the Vatican.
The Next Pope: Lists Abound, Certainty Does Not
The news media, blogs, pundits and people on the street all seem to have their favorite candidate or a list of “probable” next popes, but the College of Cardinals as a whole does not.
U.S. Cardinals Who Will Enter Conclave To Elect Pope
A list of the U.S. cardinals who are under the age of 80 and eligible to enter the conclave May 7 to elect a new pope:
Conclave To Elect Next Pope Will Begin May 7
The 135 cardinals eligible to elect the next pope will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave May 7, the Vatican announced.