Papal Conclave

Religion

In 2025, attention toward the selection of a new pope centers on a conclave that followed the death or resignation of a predecessor, with the College of Cardinals convening to e...

Religion

Black smoke and white smoke during a papal conclave communicate whether a new pope has been elected. Black smoke indicates that a ballot did not result in the necessary two-thir...

Religion

A papal conclave is the formal process by which the College of Cardinals elects a new bishop of Rome and pope. The term refers to the locked-room gathering where cardinals meet...

Catholic Church

A conclave is the formal gathering of cardinal electors convened to elect a new pope, typically after a papal death or resignation. It is neither a global public vote nor a poli...

Religion

As of today, the pope who most recently passed away is Pope Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who died on December 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in the Mater et M...

Status Updates

When a new pope is elected, the conclave draws a global audience that needs a reliable place to watch. At the time of writing, the conclave is carried on the international telev...

Catholicism

When the pope dies, a combination of medical verification, time-honored ceremonial protocols, and Vatican administrative procedures begins immediately. This verified explainer o...

Religion

Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis on 13 March 2013 during the papal conclave held after the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Elected on the second ballot, he...

Religion

When a pope dies, a combination of strict protocol, centuries-old tradition, and structured Catholic law sets the stage for electing a new bishop of Rome. This verified explaine...