With less than 48 hours until the beginning of the conclave, the cardinals who will enter the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope discussed war, the need for dialogue and the role of the pope in fostering it.
Sistine Chapel
Creation, Last Judgment, Stoves: Workers Ready Sistine Chapel for Conclave
In preparation for the conclave, workers have placed a protective covering over the marble mosaic floors and started carrying in pipes, couplers and sheets of subflooring into the Sistine Chapel
Cardinals Approve Electors for Conclave, Formally Ask for Prayers
The College of Cardinals confirmed that 135 members are eligible to participate in the conclave, the Vatican announced, and they asked the faithful to accompany them in prayer as they prepare to elect the next pope.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Best Gift a Child Can Receive is Faith, Pope Says at Baptisms
When children are baptized, their parents and the church are giving them the greatest gift ever: the gift of faith, Pope Francis said before baptizing 21 infants in the Sistine Chapel.
Raphael’s Tapestries Briefly Return to Sistine Chapel
An artistic masterpiece conceived by the Renaissance master Raphael was on display for one week in the Sistine Chapel to help celebrate the 500-year anniversary of the artist’s death.
New Cardinals: Pope’s Choices Stress Dialogue, Care for Poor
After the consistory to create new cardinals in early October, Pope Francis will have chosen more than half of the men who will enter the Sistine Chapel to elect his successor.