Pope Francis died Monday morning at the age of 88, according to Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo.”At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” Farrell announced.”He taught…

JOHANNESBURG: The next pope could, and some analysts say should, come from Africa. Christianity is booming here. More people are becoming Catholics on the continent than anywhere else in the world, and millions of Africans proudly stay true to their faith despite persecution and death.”As in previous years, increases (in…

Pope Francis, 88, the oldest pope in over a century, died Monday morning, though quiet discussions on who could succeed him have reportedly already begun. While any male Catholic could in theory be chosen to sit in the papal seat, historically, succeeding popes have been selected from the Sacred College of…

The U.S. and Iran have agreed to meet for a third round of talks later this week in Muscat, Oman, after they met in Italy with Omani intermediaries to discuss Iran’s nuclear program on Saturday.Details of the negotiations have not been released and any concrete progress in ending Iran’s nuclear…

The funeral for Pope Francis will include many long-held traditions, but will also eschew some of the more intricate customs after the pope amended the Catholic Church’s papal funeral rights.  Francis died Monday at age 88, the Vatican announced.While much of the tradition associated with papal funerals – which dates…

Though controversial, one of the least contentious 2025 Oscar-nominated films was “Conclave,” an Edward Berger-directed mystery thriller starring Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini and Stanley Tucci, which brings to life the political and religious traditions regarding how Catholic cardinals elect a new pope.The conclave will gather again in actuality as the…

U.S. President Donald Trump and various other world leaders issued comments responding to the news that Pope Francis passed away on Monday.”Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!” Trump declared in a post on Truth Social.Vice President JD Vance, who had just met…

Just a few days after becoming pope, Pope Francis revealed his burial wishes upon his death.In March 2013, Pope Francis was elected during a conclave by the Cardinals of the Catholic Church following Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to step down amid health concerns.”It was his belief that he may not…

After a pope dies, the Catholic Church chooses its next leader through an ancient electoral process called the “papal conclave.”In practice, since at least 1276, the conclave gathers the church’s top bishops – called the College of Cardinals – from around the globe. Though there are more than 240 cardinals…

Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome and supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church, who worked to instill progressive influences on the global church while maintaining unity with conservatives amid years of turmoil, died Monday morning, Vatican camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced. He was 88 years old.”Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow…