5 h. ago At Mass in housing projects and tourist hotspots, Romans pray next pope focuses on poverty and peace

At Masses across Rome and socioeconomic lines, Catholics prayed the next pope focuses on poverty and peace days before the conclave that will elect Pope Francis’ successor

Politics

9 h. ago Conclave author says papal election process is akin to The Traitors

The conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor will begin on 7 May

Politics

12 h. 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

12 h. ago Pope Francis sheltered the homeless. Now they worry what comes net

Known as the ‘slum bishop’ Francis made concern for the poor a major focus

Politics

13 h. ago Trump accused of ‘mocking’ Catholics after posting image of himself as pope

US president displays ‘pathological megalomania’ as cardinals gather to elect new leader after death of Pope FrancisDonald Trump has been accused of mocking the election of a new leader of the Catholic church after posting an AI-generated picture of himself as the pope on social media.The image, shared on Friday night on Trump’s Truth Social site and the White House’s official X account, raised eyebrows at the Vatican, which is still in the period of nine days of official mourning after Pope Francis’s funeral on 26 April. Continue reading...

Politics

33 h. ago Donald Trump posts bizarre image of himself as pope just week after pontiff’s funeral

The US President previously joked he ‘would be my number one choice’ to replace late Pope Francis

Politics

36 h. ago Zelensky calls meeting with Trump at Vatican 'the best' and raises ceasefire hopes

Volodymyr Zelensky was pictured in conversation with Donald Trump at the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis. The Ukrainian leader now says they agreed on several points

Politics

37 h. ago Donald Trump posts AI photo of himself as Pope and sparks fury after Francis funeral

United States President Donald Trump has shared a mock-up of himself dressed as the Pope just a week after attending the funeral of Francis at the Vatican, sparking outrage

Culture

37 h. ago Donald Trump posts picture of HIMSELF as pope just a week after Francis' funeral

US President Donald Trump has posted an AI picture of himself as the Pope only a week after the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican City.

Politics

42 h. ago Vatican workers install Sistine Chapel stove where ballots are burned during conclave to elect pope

Vatican workers have installed the simple stove in the Sistine Chapel where ballots will be burned during the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope

Economics

43 h. ago Play your cardinals right: Betting on next pope gains popularity ahead of the conclave

Growing numbers of people are making bets on next week’s conclave to elect the next pope

Culture

43 h. ago Dinner parties, listening and lobbying. What goes on behind closed doors to elect a pope

British Cardinal Vincent Nichols provides an insider's view of what's going on in these days before the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis

Politics

66 h. ago Vatican firefighters install a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel for the papal election

Preparations for the conclave to find a new pope accelerated Friday with the installation of the chimney out of the Sistine Chapel that will signal the election of a successor to Pope Francis

Politics

3 d. ago The minerals deal is advantageous for Ukraine – but also for the United States

Editorial: The ‘Art of the Deal’ may have been Donald Trump’s abiding contribution to literature but it is Volodymyr Zelensky, it now seems, who used his personal diplomacy with the US president during the funeral for Pope Francis to excellent effect

Economics

3 d. ago Why the Vatican gave unprecedented health updates on Pope Francis

Exclusive: In a statement to The Independent, the Holy See revealed the deliberate strategy behind the unprecedented number of press briefings from the Pope's doctors during his hospitalization.

Politics

3 d. ago Scots charity chief 'inspired' by Pope Francis's dedication to children in poverty

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow met the late pontiff just weeks before he died and said the religious leader was an inspiration.

Politics

3 d. ago Martin Scorsese documentary to bring ‘final dream’ of Pope Francis to life

It will feature conversations between Oscar-winning director Scorsese and the late pontiff.

Sport

3 d. ago US and Ukraine finally sign minerals deal as Donald Trump makes key concession

The deal appears to contain some important concessions by Washington and comes days after Trump and Zelensky held talks at Pope Francis’s funeral

Politics

3 d. ago Martin Scorsese producing documentary featuring Pope Francis’s final on

The documentary will focus on the late pope’s interest in cinema, education, and community building

Sport

3 d. ago Africans say a Black pope would be nice to have. But they are not too hopeful

If the next pope is from sub-Saharan Africa, he would be the first in Catholic Church history

Politics