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Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, Australia.

Pro-lifers protest law attacking conscience protections in New South Wales, Australia

May 9, 2025

By Madalaine Elhabbal

The “Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Health Care Access) Bill 2025” comes six years after the southeastern Australian state decriminalized abortion. Read more

Actor Kelsey Grammer speaks during a memorial for actor James Earl Jones at The James Earl Jones Theater on April 7, 2025, in New York City.

Actor Kelsey Grammer says aborting son ‘the greatest pain I have ever known’

May 9, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news. Read more

Pope Leo XIV gives the homily at Mass with the cardinale electors in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, 2025.

FULL TEXT: Pope Leo XIV’s homily at Mass with the cardinal electors in the Sistine Chapel

May 9, 2025

By Pope Leo XIV

“You have called me to carry that cross, and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can... Read more

Pope Leo XIV is seen flanked by cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica shortly after his election, Thursday, May 8, 2025.

LIVE UPDATES: First key dates of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate announced

May 9, 2025

By CNA Staff

LIVE UPDATES: First Mass of Pope Leo XIV Read more

Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful in St. Peter’s Square shortly after his election to the papacy, Thursday, May 8, 2025.

14 things to know about Pope Leo XIV — the first U.S.-born pope

May 9, 2025

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

On May 8, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV by the College of Cardinals as the 266th... Read more

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

Pope Leo XIV to pray Regina Caeli, greet journalists in first engagements after election

May 9, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Just hours after being elected the Catholic Church’s 267th pontiff, Pope Leo XIV has three appointments on his agenda. Read more

Michael Warsaw, CEO of EWTN.

EWTN’s Michael Warsaw celebrates ‘momentous’ election of first American pope

May 8, 2025

By Madalaine Elhabbal

“It is with great joy that I welcome the election of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV,”... Read more

“What a great honor for our country,” President Trump said of the election of the Catholic Church’s new Chicago-born pope on May 8, 2025.

Trump, Vance, other U.S. leaders celebrate first American pope

May 8, 2025

By Tyler Arnold

U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, along with scores of other elected officials throughout the country have... Read more

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

U.S. bishops react to election of Pope Leo XIV, first pope from United States

May 8, 2025

By CNA Staff

Cardinals elected Leo to the supreme pontificate on Thursday afternoon, with white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel signaling the... Read more

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.

Who is Pope Leo XIV? A bio of the first American pope

May 8, 2025

By Jonah McKeown

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, May 8 — the first pope from the United... Read more

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