Conclave

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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

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

Cardinals participate in the fifth Novendiales Mass for Pope Francis on April 30, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

Pope Francis’ cardinal picks bring new voices to the conclave

May 2, 2025

By Jonah McKeown

The proportion of cardinal electors from Africa and the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, and countries in... Read more

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández delivers the homily during the sixth Novendiales Mass for Pope Francis on May 1, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

FULL TEXT: Cardinal Fernández’s homily on the sixth day of Novendiales

Here is the full text of the homily from Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, delivered at the sixth Novendiales Mass on... Read more

Cardinals participate in the fifth Novendiales Mass for Pope Francis on April 30, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

LIVE UPDATES: Cardinals celebrate fifth Novendiales Mass, ask for prayers for conclave

Apr 30, 2025

By CNA Staff

Follow here for live updates of the latest news regarding the upcoming papal conclave. Read more

Cardinals celebrate the Novendiales Masses on the fourth day of mourning for Pope Francis on April 29, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

College of Cardinals asks for prayers ahead of May 7 conclave

Apr 30, 2025

By Courtney Mares

The appeal came as the cardinals concluded their seventh general congregation — the daily meetings leading up to the start... Read more

Cardinals participate in Day 4 of the Novendiales Masses for Pope Francis on April 29, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

Adopt a cardinal: How Catholics can pray for the electors of the next pope

Apr 29, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

Monsignor Roger Landry encouraged Catholics to pray for the cardinals in a video message from St. Peter’s Square on Monday. Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin (left) and other cardinals celebrate Mass on Day 3 of the Novendiales Masses for Pope Francis on April 28, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

Cardinals hold sixth general congregation, confirm 2 electors will not be at conclave

Apr 29, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, said the names of the two cardinals would not be... Read more

Statue of St. Peter on St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

May 7 papal conclave date finalized as cardinals prepare for election

Apr 28, 2025

By AC Wimmer

The Vatican announced Monday that the conclave to elect Pope Francis’ successor will begin on May 7, as the Church... Read more

Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Lawrence in the film “Conclave.”

‘Conclave’ fact vs. fiction: What does the hit movie get right and wrong?

Apr 25, 2025

By Jonah McKeown

Here’s a (non-exhaustive) look at what “Conclave” gets wrong — and gets right — about the process of electing a... Read more

Italian Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu (right) waits prior to the start of a consistory during which 20 new cardinals are to be created by the Pope, on Aug. 27, 2022 at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. (

Cardinal Becciu claims conclave vote despite loss of privileges

Apr 25, 2025

By AC Wimmer

The former deputy Vatican secretary of state told Italian media as he left his native Sardinia for Rome on April... Read more

Thousands depart St. Peter's Square after praying the Holy Rosary for Pope Francis, Monday, April 21, 2025

CNA explains: ‘Sede vacante’ and ‘interregnum’ — what do they mean? 

Apr 23, 2025

By Jonah McKeown

A highly regulated process has now begun that will see Pope Francis’ earthly body laid to rest and a conclave... Read more

Cardinals, bishops, and priests carrying palm branches gather for the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, April 13, 2025.

General congregation begins: Cardinals suspend beatifications, swear to secrecy

Apr 22, 2025

By Kate Quiñones

At the first general congregation of cardinals in Rome on Tuesday, the estimated 60 cardinals in attendance chose the date... Read more

Pope Francis dies at 88: The Holy See has confirmed the passing of the first Latin American pontiff.

BREAKING: Pope Francis dies at 88, ending historic pontificate marked by mercy and reform

Apr 21, 2025

By CNA Staff

Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for just over 12 years as its first Latin American pontiff, has died... Read more

The College of Cardinals celebrates Mass March 12, 2013, before entering the Sistine Chapel for the papal conclave.

Analysis: Generational change in the Roman Curia and body of cardinals is coming in 2025

Feb 24, 2025

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Catholic Church has entered a year of sweeping changes in the Roman Curia and cardinalate both at the Vatican... Read more

Cardinals follow the ceremony during the ordinary public consistory for the creation of new cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Dec. 7, 2024.

Analysis: What Pope Francis’ new cardinals reveal about future conclave

Dec 8, 2024

By Andrea Gagliarducci

While he has appointed 78% of electors, factors including limited gatherings and logistical challenges suggest the next conclave’s outcome remains... Read more

Cardinal-elect Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi speaks to CNA on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Rome.

Tokyo’s new cardinal shares what he is looking for in the next pope

Oct 26, 2024

By Courtney Mares

“If a conclave happens very soon, I think what we need is somebody to succeed the policy of Pope Francis,”... Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, during an interview with EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser on Jan. 18, 2024.

Cardinal Koch shares considerations for next conclave, pope, ecumenism

Aug 2, 2024

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

Cardinal Kurt Koch said in a recent interview that a conclave “is not a political thing, but a prayer” and... Read more

White smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on March 13, 2013, signaling that the College of Cardinals has elected a new pope.

Anonymous Cardinal ‘Demos II’ proposes agenda for next pope 

Mar 5, 2024

By Walter Sánchez Silva

An anonymous cardinal offers seven suggested tasks for the next successor of St. Peter. Read more

Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ, takes possession of his titular church in Rome, the Church of the Gesù, on Dec. 8, 2022.

Canon lawyer denies involvement in papal election reform, calling reports ‘a pure lie’

Nov 6, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Reports said Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda had been tasked by Pope Francis with drafting revisions to conclaves. Read more