30 m. ago PopeCrave, brat fancams and 7m views: how Gen Z went wild for the papal conclave

The whole world is hanging on the promise of white smoke billowing out of the Sistine Chapel, but no one seems to be quite as enraptured as Gen Z. Maddy Mussen finds out what’s fuelling the unexpected obsession

Politics

2 h. ago Confusion in the Vatican as white smoke appears to billow from Sistine Chapel

Footage from the Vatican live feed of the conclave shows white smoke, indicating the new pope has been elected.

Events

5 h. ago Conclave live: black smoke emerges from chimney as cardinals fail to agree on new pope

Signal from Sistine Chapel chimney shows deliberations will continue over new leader of the Catholic church Explainer: how does the conclave work?Leading candidates to be the next popeHistorically, some of the conclaves were really drawn out: in 13th century, they needed three years, over 1,000 days, to choose Gregory X.There was also one that ended on the first day, when Julius II in 1503 was elected after just 10 hours. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago Conclave live: Cardinals vote again after black smoke signals no pope chosen on first day

The assembled cardinals vote up to four times a day, while crowds gather in St Peter’s Square to wait for the white smoke that signals the Conclave has selected a successor to Pope Francis

Politics

7 h. ago Cardinals resume voting as world watches Vatican City for white smoke

Up to four rounds of voting can take place each full day of conclave, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Events

7 h. ago The secret ingredients that turn the conclave smoke black or white

The smoke is used to signal whether a new Pope has been elected, but what exactly is in it?

Events

7 h. ago Conclave live: Cardinals to vote again after black smoke signals no pope chosen on first day

The assembled cardinals vote up to four times a day, while crowds gather in St Peter’s Square to wait for the white smoke that signals the Conclave has selected a successor to Pope Francis

Politics

7 h. ago Conclave live: Catholic cardinals gather for second day to elect new pope

Up to four rounds of voting expected with history suggesting white smoke might be seen todayExplainer: how does the conclave work?Leading candidates to be the next pope If you want to see the latest scenes from the Vatican, there is now a live stream showing St Peter’s Square and the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel pinned at the top of this page.What makes today slightly more tricky to follow is that while we have four rounds of voting, we may not get smoke after every one of them. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago Black smoke emerges at Vatican as conclave fails to elect pope – live

Cardinals will be back for more votes tomorrow with up to four rounds of votingWho will be the next pope? Potential candidatesPapal in-tray: new pontiff will have to hit ground runningHow does the conclave work?If you’d rather get up to date on the pomp and the politics of the conclave, the process to elect Pope Francis’s successor, good news: we’ve got you covered.It is, as Guardian journalist Harriet Sherwood explains, an election rich in ceremony and ritual. Yet it can get very dirty too: cardinals lobbying in corridors and Vatican gardens; allegations of leaks to the media to discredit rivals; even the emergence of a video of one cardinal – a bookies’ favourite to be the next pope – singing ‘atheist anthem’ Imagine by John Lennon. Continue reading...

Events

22 h. ago World awaits chimney smoke as conclave starts to elect new pope – live

Doors to the Sistine Chapel have been closed and first vote expected to be taken today Who will be the next pope? Potential candidatesPapal in-tray: new pontiff will have to hit ground runningHow does the conclave work?If you’d rather get up to date on the pomp and the politics of the conclave, the process to elect Pope Francis’s successor, good news: we’ve got you covered.It is, as Guardian journalist Harriet Sherwood explains, an election rich in ceremony and ritual. Yet it can get very dirty too: cardinals lobbying in corridors and Vatican gardens; allegations of leaks to the media to discredit rivals; even the emergence of a video of one cardinal – a bookies’ favourite to be the next pope – singing ‘atheist anthem’ Imagine by John Lennon. Continue reading...

Events

23 h. ago Conclave begins as locking of Sistine Chapel signals formal start to process to elect new pope – live

Doors to the Sistine Chapel have been closed and first vote expected to be taken today Who will be the next pope? Potential candidatesPapal in-tray: new pontiff will have to hit ground runningHow does the conclave work?If you’d rather get up to date on the pomp and the politics of the conclave, the process to elect Pope Francis’s successor, good news: we’ve got you covered.It is, as Guardian journalist Harriet Sherwood explains, an election rich in ceremony and ritual. Yet it can get very dirty too: cardinals lobbying in corridors and Vatican gardens; allegations of leaks to the media to discredit rivals; even the emergence of a video of one cardinal – a bookies’ favourite to be the next pope – singing ‘atheist anthem’ Imagine by John Lennon. Continue reading...

Politics

23 h. ago All eyes on Sistine Chapel for smoke as secret conclave begins to elect new pope

White smoke will confirm a new pontiff to lead the world’s Catholics has been chosen.

Events

25 h. ago All eyes on Vatican City for smoke as cardinals begin work to choose new pope

White smoke will confirm a new pontiff to lead the world’s Catholics has been chosen.

Economics

28 h. ago New Pope: Black or white smoke? What the colours mean as vote begins in the Vatican

And so it begins. The world's most secretive ceremony to select a new Pope is underway. Never will a chimney have so many eyes fixed upon it.

Events

30 h. ago Conclave begins at Vatican as secret voting for new Pope to get underway

Following a special mass in St Peter’s Basilica, the group will go into the Sistine Chapel where they will have no contact with the outside world until white smoke rises into the air.

Politics

30 h. ago New pope will face ‘complex moment in history’, senior cardinal says, before conclave to select Pope Francis’ successor – live

Cardinals set to meet behind closed doors of Sistine Chapel to decide who will become new popeCardinals to begin choosing new popePapal in-tray: new pontiff will have to hit ground runningHow does the conclave work?In his homily – seen as a guiding message for the 133 cardinals set to take part in the conclave – Battista Re called for the help of the Holy Spirit to guide cardinals in choosing the pope “that the church and humanity need at this difficult and complex turning point in history.”He urged them to “put aside all personal considerations” and demonstrate love, “the only force capable of changing the world.” Continue reading...

Culture

31 h. ago The world waits for white smoke: Cardinals prepare for first vote on new Pope TODAY with prayers in the Vatican ahead of sealing themselves off from the outside world for secretive conclave

With all the pomp, drama and solemnity that the Catholic Church can muster, 133 cardinals on Wednesday begin the secretive, centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis

Events

31 h. ago Conclave live: Catholic cardinals from around the world gather to elect new pope

Cardinals meet behind closed doors of Sistine Chapel to decide who should succeed Pope FrancisCardinals to begin choosing new popePapal in-tray: new pontiff will have to hit ground runningHow does the conclave work?You can follow the mass live here:And you can follow the texts here. Continue reading...

Politics

50 h. ago Choosing the next pope: How does the Vatican make white smoke?

The outcome of the secretive papal election is announced through smoke, but how do they change its colour?

Events

4 d. ago I worked in the Vatican for 18 years – this will be the most unpredictable conclave yet | Ariel Beramendi

Will the cardinals follow Francis’s path or return to a more conservative doctrine? The white smoke will tell us which faction has won Ariel Beramendi worked at the Vatican for 18 years as an official in the Dicastery for CommunicationAs the cardinals ready themselves to select the next pope, one thing is certain: this will be the most unpredictable conclave in the recent history of the Catholic church. I worked in the Vatican for 18 years, and on my return to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis last month, the tension and drama were already palpable.Some observers and former colleagues I spoke to believe this will be a particularly difficult conclave, given its size – 133 electors, as opposed to 117 last time – and the fact that many of the cardinals don’t know one another. This is down to Francis diversifying the college, appointing cardinals from all over the world: a full 108 of the current crop were his selections. Others suggest the electors will try to reach a decision in le...

Economics