Vatican News
Cardinals say they do not know who next Pope will be yet
Prior to entering the House of St. Martha yesterday, several cardinals told the faithful that they did not know—and had... Read more
Cardinal Ratzinger prays for ‘a pastor to lead us to knowledge of Christ, to His love, to true joy’
Just hours before cardinals from around the world made their solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave,... Read more
Black smoke signals no pope chosen in first vote
It was 20:05 in Rome when black smoke rose from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke indicates that... Read more
Cardinals finish meetings, John Paul’s Fisherman’s Ring destroyed
The Vatican Press Office director denied media reports that the official meetings of the cardinals, known as General Congregations, ended... Read more
Vatican reveals conclave schedule
Voting for the successor of Pope John Paul II could begin as early as Monday evening, said Vatican Press Office... Read more
Dome, gardens off-limits to tourists during conclave
With the conclave opening tomorrow, the Holy See is restricting movement in and around the Vatican to ensure cardinals the... Read more
Vatican official: Latin America ready to give the Church a pope
Archbishop Cipriano Calderon Polo, Vice President emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and member of the Congregation for... Read more
‘Jesus alone can satisfy man’s hunger for love; thirst for justice’, wrote John Paul II
Today the Vatican released Pope John Paul II’s message for this year’s annual World Mission Day, which he wrote before... Read more
Cardinals continue to discuss state of the Church in the world as conclave approaches
Earlier today, 138 cardinals gathered at the Vatican to prepare to select a new pope, met for their eleventh General... Read more
Spanish journalist: “young people should go to Cologne to pay homage to John Paul II”
The renowned Spanish journalist Paloma Gomez Borrero, the only female journalist who accompanied the Pope during all 104 of his... Read more
Sistine Chapel chimney ready for conclave
This Thursday workers at the Vatican finished installing the chimney in the Sistine Chapel that will send the famous black... Read more
Preparations for the conclave: Cardinals explore state of Church in the world
142 cardinals participated this morning in the tenth General Congregation of Cardinals, leading up to Monday’s conclave where they will... Read more
Four votes, two plumes of smoke per day during Conclave
The cardinals gathered in the Conclave will vote twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, but the burning... Read more
Archbishop Sandri: ‘Church must bring to fruition legacy of extraordinary pope’
"To us, above all,” said Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, at a Mass for John Paul II last evening, “falls the task... Read more
Mary Ann Glendon: Better catechesis for the laity urgent
The President of the Pontifical Council for the Sciences, Dr. Mary Ann Glendon, said Wednesday at the Vatican that the... Read more
Thousands visit tomb of John Paul II
Early this morning, the Vatican reopened the grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time since the death of... Read more
Papal conclave participants to take oath Friday
As cardinals from around the world prepare to elect a new pope, the Vatican announced today that all those who... Read more
John Paul opened hearts to the Good News of the Gospel, says Ratzinger to world diplomats
In a testament to the broad travels of the late John Paul II, the College of Cardinals today received official... Read more
Ninth General Congregation draws cardinals closer to conclave
As Monday’s papal conclave itself draws ever nearer; Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released a statement today on... Read more
Cardinal Eugenio Sales praises John Paul II’s teaching on human dignity
During the fifth Novendiale Mass celebrated on Tuesday for the repose of the soul of Pope John Paul II, Brazilian... Read more
