88 m. ago Conclave live: Next Pope is ‘everybody’s guess’ before Cardinals gather for oath of secrecy and first vote

Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are among the favourites to succeed Pope Francis ahead of the secretive ballot

Politics

2 h. ago Conclave latest LIVE: Cardinals attend Mass at the Vatican before secretive papal election begins

Some 133 Cardinals begin their secretive conclave on Wednesday with a first round of voting due in the afternoon

Politics

2 h. ago Why the Vatican will cut the phone signal ahead of the secret Conclave vote

The Vatican has made sure that what happens in the Sistine Chapel stays in the Sistine Chapel

Politics

3 h. ago How a new Pope is chosen as Papal Conclave to announce 267th head of Catholic church

Whoever is picked will become one of the world's most powerful figures, considered to be the successor of St Peter, the first apostle, and leader of 1.4 billion Catholics

Politics

3 h. ago Conclave cardinals told choice for next pope is of ‘exceptional importance’

The electors met for mass at St Peter’s Basilica ahead of the conclave in the Sistine Chapel from Wednesday afternoon.

Politics

3 h. ago Conclave latest LIVE: Cardinals attend final Mass at St Peter's Basilica before electing next pope

The conclave begins at the Vatican with mass attended by all voting cardinals in St Peter’s Basilica

Politics

3 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

3 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

4 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

4 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

4 h. ago Conclave mystery as African cardinal claims he 'hasn't been invited' to join voting for new Pope

Cardinal John Njue, 79, is eligible to join the other 133 cardinals, from 70 countries, who are gathering for the start of the process which begins this afternoon in the Sistine Chapel.

Politics

5 h. ago Conclave live: First vote to decide the next Pope set to take place today

Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are among the favourites to succeed Pope Francis ahead of the secretive ballot

Politics

6 h. ago Conclave latest LIVE: Cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect successor to Pope Francis

The conclave begins at the Vatican with mass attended by all voting cardinals in St Peter’s Basilica at 9am BST

Politics

7 h. ago Secret and rigorous voting ritual to elect a new pope set to begin

While cardinals this week said they expected a short conclave, it will likely take at least a few rounds of voting

Politics

8 h. ago Bitterly divided cardinals retreat for conclave to elect new pope

Vote among 133 cardinals is ‘a referendum’ on papacy of Francis, who split the church with liberal reforms

Politics

8 h. ago What the new Pope’s name will say about their plans for the Catholic Church

Four favourites have emerged to succeed Pope Francis but it is unclear which cardinal will be picked

Politics

9 h. ago Conclave live: First vote to decide the next Pope to take place today

Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are among the favourites to succeed Pope Francis ahead of the secretive ballot

Politics

9 h. ago Cardinals to begin choosing new pope in largest ever conclave

Election could be most unpredictable in church’s history with 133 diverse and divided participants in Sistine ChapelCatholic cardinals from all over the world will begin casting their votes for a new pope under Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon in what is the largest and possibly the most unpredictable conclave to ever take place.One of the legacies of Pope Francis, who died last month aged 88, was to leave behind a widely diverse but divided college of cardinals, with some in harmony with the progressive church he promoted and others wanting to overthrow his changes and turn back the clock. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago The Conclave is coming: British cardinals arrive for secret gathering to select the new Pope

Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, 79, is one of three British cardinals who will be involved in electing the next Pope once the voting process begins this afternoon.

Politics

18 h. ago Who is Pietro Parolin? The longtime Vatican diplomat who could be the next pope

Pietro Parolin has been the Vatican's secretary of state for the last 12 years

Politics