Latest Catholic News

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims in St. Pete’s Square shortly after his election on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV’s first words to the world: ‘Peace be with you all’

May 8, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

The 69-year-old new pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected the first pope from the United States on Thursday. Read more

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims in St. Pete’s Square shortly after his election on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

A prayer for the newly elected Pope Leo XIV

May 8, 2025

By CNA Staff

Today, May 8, the first American was elected taking the name Pope Leo XIV — here is a prayer for... Read more

Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims in St. Peter's Square shortly after his election on Thursday, May 8, 2025

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost elected as 267th pope, takes name Leo XIV

May 8, 2025

By AC Wimmer

White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 6:09 p.m. Rome time on Thursday, signaling that the... Read more

Indian Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad of the Syro-Malabar Church, official of the Secretariat of State and organizer of papal trips, was created a cardinal by Pope Francis during the consistory at St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 7, 2024.

India’s Cardinal Koovakad plays key role ensuring secrecy, validity of conclave voting

May 8, 2025

By Kristina Millare

As the most junior member of the College of Cardinals, Koovakad is tasked with drawing out the names of three... Read more

Deborah True.

Former parish administrator faces decade in prison for $700,000 theft from Florida parish

May 8, 2025

By Daniel Payne

Prosecutors had alleged in 2022 that Deborah True and Father Richard Murphy stole nearly $1.5 million in parish funds from... Read more

From left to right: Cardinal Louis Sako (Iraq), Cardinal Mario Zenari (Syria), Cardinal Dominique Mathieu (Iran), 
Cardinal Louis Sako (Iraq), Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Jerusalem), and Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero (Morocco).

Who are the Middle Eastern cardinals participating in the conclave?

May 8, 2025

By Souheil Lawand

This paradigm shift reflects the profound transformation within the Catholic Church as it increasingly emphasizes broader representation from the global... Read more

Black smoke billows from the chimney at 11:53 a.m. local time over St. Peter’s Square on May 8, 2025.

White or black: How the conclave smoke gets made

May 8, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Where does the smoke come from and how are the two colors — black and white — produced? Read more

Cardinals process to the Sistine Chapel as the conclave to elect the 266th successor to St. Peter, the 267th pope, begins on May 7, 2025.

Are the cardinals forever bound to not reveal the results of the conclave balloting?

May 8, 2025

By Victoria Cardiel

The recent history of the Catholic Church shows that the secrecy eventually breaks. Read more

Bishop Maurício Agostinho Camuto of the Diocese of Caxito in Angola greets children at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish of his Episcopal See.

Prioritize children’s schooling over gold mining, Angolan bishop says

May 8, 2025

By João Vissesse

Bishop Maurício Agostinho Camuto warned that prioritizing gold mining over “children’s schooling” has far-reaching consequences for his country’s future. Read more

Reference photo of two chefs.

No pasta carbonara or hard liquor on cardinals’ conclave menu

Nutritionist Giorgio Calabrese, an Italian doctor who specializes in nutritional science, prepared the menu for the cardinal electors who have... Read more

Black smoke billows from the chimney at 11:53 am local time over St. Peter’s square on May 8, 2025.

Black smoke rises from Sistine Chapel as Thursday morning voting concludes without a pope

May 8, 2025

By AC Wimmer

The plume of dark smoke indicates that the 133 cardinal electors sequestered inside the chapel have not reached the required... Read more

Left to right: Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, Cardinal Péter Erdő, and Cardinal Peter Turkson.

Meet the 5 cardinal electors with the most conclave experience

May 7, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Four electors — Cardinals Peter Turkson, Philippe Barbarin, Péter Erdő, and Josip Bozanić — became members of the College of... Read more

Cardinals prepare to begin the conclave to elect a new pope in the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025.

Conclave schedule: What time does the smoke appear?

Beginning Thursday, the cardinals will hold four votes each day: two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Read more

Black smoke issues from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that no pope has yet been elected, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Black smoke rises from Sistine Chapel as first conclave vote ends without new pope

May 7, 2025

By AC Wimmer

The black smoke confirmed the 133 cardinal electors sequestered inside had not reached the required two-thirds majority — at least... Read more

The Society of Catholic Scientists convenes in South Bend, Indiana, in 2019.

Convention of Catholic scientists looks at human origins, Eucharistic miracles, and more

May 7, 2025

By Jonah McKeown

The 2025 Conference of the Society of Catholic Scientists will take place June 6–8 at The Catholic University of America... Read more

Vestments rest in the Room of Tears at the Sistine Chapel ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope, Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

Why it matters what the new pope will wear when he appears on the balcony 

May 7, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Here is a list of the garments you may see the new pope wearing once he steps out onto the... Read more

Vestments rest in the Room of Tears at the Sistine Chapel ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope, Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

The Room of Tears: Where new popes go right after their election

May 7, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

The Room of Tears is just a few feet away from the Sistine Chapel, where the monumental decision of the... Read more

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden, New Jersey.

New Jersey bishop says diocese will drop fight against state’s grand jury abuse probe

May 7, 2025

By Daniel Payne

The Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, said it will drop its fight against the state’s efforts to empanel a grand... Read more

Cardinals process into the Sistine Chapel as the conclave to elect the 266th successor to St. Peter, the 267th pope, begins on May 7, 2025.

‘Extra omnes:’ Cardinals closed in conclave begin the election of the new pope

May 7, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Inside the Sistine Chapel, each cardinal elector stood before his assigned seat, facing the Book of the Gospels, placed on... Read more

Pilgrims gather in St. Peter’s Square for a Mass and canonization of 14 new saints on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.

Papal charity’s pilgrimage to Rome begins on day conclave opens

May 7, 2025

By Aid to the Church in Need

Aid to the Church in Need’s jubilee event, which focuses on the hope they seek to provide the suffering Church,... Read more