‘Extra omnes’: How a Pope is elected during the Conclave
From the voting of cardinal electors to the burning of ballots in a cast-iron stove dating back to 1939, here’s a look at what happens inside the Sistine Chapel during a papal election. By Tiziana Campisi “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”.) These are the words printed …
Trump’s Justice Department investigates Washington law threatening seal of confession
By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 6, 2025 / 16:11 pm President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating an “anti-Catholic law” in Washington state that threatens priests with up to one year in jail if they fail to report child abuse they learn about during the sacrament of …
Bishop Barron offers overview of ‘papabile’ field
By Tessa Gervasini Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 7, 2025 / 09:38 am One of America’s best-known prelates, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, has shared what he believes to be the qualities of some of the cardinals being mentioned as “papabile,” the Italian term for a man who could be pope. …
FULL TEXT & VIDEO: Cardinal Re’s homily for the Mass for the election of the Supreme Pontiff
By Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re Rome Newsroom, May 7, 2025 / 04:43 am Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered this homily at the “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” (For the Election of the Roman Pontiff) Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on May 7, 2025, just hours before …
The history behind ‘habemus papam’ and the white smoke that announces a new pope
By Julieta Villar , Zoe Romanowsky ACI Prensa Staff, May 6, 2025 / 17:41 pm When a new pope is elected, there are two signs that mark that historic moment: the white smoke (“fumata bianca” in Italian) erupting from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the formula “habemus papam” pronounced by the …
The Conclave from the Middle Ages to the present day
The Conclave as we know it today goes back to the Middle Ages, and was established to prevent a prolonged Vacant See (Sede Vacante) and outside interference. By Lisa Zengarini* The term “Conclave” comes from two Latin words: cum (with) and clavis (key). In Church terminology, it designates both the secluded place where the …
Catholic leaders respond to President Trump over AI image of himself as pope
By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 5, 2025 / 14:57 pm Catholic leaders and some members of the Church hierarchy in the United States have criticized President Donald Trump for sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as a pope. Trump, who frequently shares memes of himself on social media, posted …
Becoming Catholic
You’ve heard the call to the Church. What’s next? The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process by which non-Catholic adults and children of cat- echetical age, whether non-baptized or baptized in another Christian faith, become members of the Catholic Church. Until recently, this process was called …
Upcoming conclave will be first with more than 120 Cardinal electors
The conclave set to begin on May 7 will be the first to include 133 Cardinal electors, but it is not the first time the College of Cardinals has exceeded the 120 limit. By Tiziana Campisi and Kielce Gussie A confirmed 133 Cardinals will participate in the upcoming conclave to …
