Pope Francis's death at the age of 88 means the Catholic Church must choose a new leader. Here's how cardinals elect the next ...

Cardinals have no contact with the outside world after the master of liturgical ceremonies utters the words “Extra Omnes” the ...

The age limit for electors was introduced by Pope Paul VI in the 1970s and was confirmed by Pope John Paul II’s 1996 ...

"We need to avoid the spiritual sickness of a Church that is wrapped up in its own world," Pope Francis said shortly after ...

Fifteen cardinals taking part in the upcoming conclave are 79 years old — some making it under the cutoff just weeks before ...

Pope Francis’ death and funeral will usher in a period of transition for the Catholic Church, with cardinals gathering at the ...

With Pope Francis’ funeral in the rearview mirror, the focus at the Vatican shifts to the forthcoming papal conclave and the ...

The Catholic Church is currently undergoing a nine-day period of mourning and prayer for the late Pope Francis, but everyone ...

Dozens, perhaps hundreds, have told me that this time of transition makes them feel unsure, unsettled and uncomfortable, ...

What happens during the interregnum period? Tom Reese, S.J., explains the time between one pope's death and the succession of ...

Pope Francis' funeral brought world leaders, monarchs, and hundreds of thousands of people to Rome on Saturday to bid him ...

The voting is highly choreographed and time-consuming to avoid any possibility of fraud or doubt about the results.