By Courtney Mares Vatican City, May 9, 2025 / 18:28 pm Americans gathered in St. Peter’s Square on May 8 to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States. Born Robert Francis Prevost on Chicago’s South Side, the 69-year-old Augustinian friar was chosen by the …

By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, May 7, 2025 / 10:38 am John, Pius, Leo, and Alexander. These are just a few of the names popes have taken over the centuries. When the white smoke appears and a new pope is chosen, he is asked: “By what name shall you be …

No Pope was elected after the third ballot of the conclave to elect the 267th Pope. By Francesca Merlo Black smoke rose from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 11:50 on Thursday afternoon, signalling the second ballot of the first full day of the conclave – and the third …

No Pope was elected after the first ballot of the conclave to elect the 267th Pope. By Joseph Tulloch Black smoke emerged from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 21:00 on Wednesday evening, signaling that a first ballot has been held at the conclave and has concluded without the …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 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 …

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 …