And they will determine whether the adage "fat pope, thin pope" holds true or whether the next leader of the Catholic Church ...

Deepening unity among Catholics will be the greatest challenge facing the next pope, who will be elected as early as ...

African outreach was among Pope Francis' legacies, observers say, with numerous visits and a message of mercy inspiring ...

On the eve of the conclave to elect the next pope, the world's smallest country, Vatican City, is engulfed in commotion as ...

For the first time, the majority of cardinals to choose a pope are not from Europe, as Catholic demographics shift. But ...

“It’s the natural journey of the church,” said Cardinal Beniamino Stella, an Italian who was once a power player in the ...

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa is a Vatican outsider, but his experience in a region sacred to three major religions may ...

As cardinals prepare for the largest papal conclave in history, battle lines are being drawn over the direction of the church ...

Catholic cardinals are gathering at the Vatican to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21. Voting will ...

With all the pomp, drama and solemnity that the Catholic Church can muster, 133 Catholic cardinals are beginning the ...

From his new name to the title he uses to introduce himself, a pope’s first appearance involves symbolic choices that signal ...

Over 130 voting cardinals must decide whether to continue in the direction of Francis or elect a pope likely to choose a more traditional path.