3 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

23 h. ago The Vatican prepares for Conclave: Sistine chapel undergoes 'radical transformation' as famous chimney is installed by firefighters ahead of mysterious election of new Pope

An insider said the Sistine Chapel would undergo a 'radical transformation' so that it would be ready for one of the most 'mysterious and solemn rituals of the Catholic Church'.

Politics

27 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

45 h. ago Fist fights, ghostly pranks and schism: a brief history of conclaves past

Selecting a new pope has always been an arduous process, but some conclaves seemed to suffer more than othersModern-day conclaves are steeped in mystery: cardinal electors swear an oath of secrecy – and so do the cooks, drivers, medics and others who support their deliberations. Before the conclave begins next week, the Sistine Chapel will be swept for electronic bugs, jamming devices will be installed, and special coatings will be placed on windows to stop laser scanners picking up anything audible.It wasn’t always this way: in the past, letters, diaries and other writings by cardinals and their attendants gave revealing accounts of what happened in the meetings convened in order to choose a pope. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago What we know about papel conclave as Vatican closes Sistine Chapel to the public

The Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather to elect the next pope, is closing to the public as the Vatican turns its attention to the ancient process of choosing a successor to Pope Francis

Politics

5 d. ago The Vatican closes the Sistine Chapel to the public and prepares for a papal conclave

The Vatican is closing the Sistine Chapel to the public as part of its preparations for the the conclave to elect the next pope after the death of Pope Francis

Politics

5 d. ago Something to look up to: how Michelangelo’s love and humility could influence the Sistine Chapel conclave

The artist’s frescoes hold many lessons for the cardinals that have to decide upon the next popeIt must be hard for the College of Cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel not to gawp at Michelangelo’s frescoes when they should be thinking only of electing a new pope. The only flaw in Robert Harris’s brilliant novel of clerical politics Conclave is that, as they scheme, none of the prelates seem bothered about the ceiling Michelangelo painted with scenes from Genesis between 1508 and 1512 or the Last Judgment he painted on the altar wall much later, from 1536 to 1541 – let alone the earlier paintings by Botticelli and others on the side walls.When a bomb blows in a window in last year’s award-winning film of the book, the conclave carries on without even pausing for restorers to check the damage. As if. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Psychic consults tarot cards to predict next Pope and there's one stand out contender

EXCLUSIVE: All eyes are on Vatican City as preparations for choosing the next pontiff are put into place following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday – with one psychic consulting her cards

Politics

7 d. ago Pope Francis funeral live: World leaders gather in the Vatican as millions of Catholics prepare final farewell

MAILONLINE BLOG: Follow live coverage from Pope Francis's funeral as world leaders gather in Rome. Francis died on Easter Monday after 13 years in the Vatican.

Economics

8 d. ago How to watch Conclave, the film streaming now about the secret and mysterious ritual to elect a new Pope

Oscar-winning film documents the sequestering of the Vatican’s religious leaders as they select the new Pope

Culture

8 d. ago Vatican readies for Pope Francis’s funeral as world leaders head to Rome

Tens of thousands of mourners have queued for hours to pay respects to pontiff before coffin is sealed on FridayPope Francis obituaryEurope live – latest updatesAlmost 130,000 people from all over the world have viewed Pope Francis’s body as the Vatican makes the final preparations for his funeral on Saturday, an event that will be attended by 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs.St Peter’s Basilica closed at 2.30am and reopened three hours later to accommodate the last of the huge crowds of mourners who had patiently waited to pay their respects to Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Monday after a stroke. The coffin will be sealed at 8pm in a ceremony attended by senior cardinals. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Pope Francis funeral latest: Vatican makes final preparations for pontiff’s burial

Pope Francis’s funeral will be held on Saturday with world leaders in attendance

Politics

8 d. ago Vatican readies for Pope Francis’s funeral as world leaders set to fly in to Rome

Tens of thousands of mourners have queued for hours to pay their last respects to pontiff, whose coffin will be closed on Friday eveningThe Vatican will make final preparations on Friday for Pope Francis’s funeral as the last of the huge crowds of mourners file through St Peter’s Basilica to view his open coffin.Many of the 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs attending Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square, who include US president Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are expected to arrive in Rome on Friday. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Italy prepares ring of steel for Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome with Nato jets, snipers and 8,000 police

Italian authorities are preparing one of the most complex and secretive security operations in Vatican history as 200,000 people descend to pay respects to Pope Francis ahead of his funeral.

Events

1 week ago Conclave: How to watch the film about the secret and mysterious ritual to elect a new Pope

Oscar-winning film documents the sequestering of the Vatican’s religious leaders as they select the new Pope

Culture

1 week ago Pope Francis pictured in open coffin in The Vatican as funeral preparations begin

The 88-year-old passed away on Easter Monday after battling illness for months.

Politics

1 week ago Pope Francis pictured in open coffin as Vatican funeral preparations begin

The body of Pope Francis, who died yesterday at the age of 88, has been laid out in an open coffin at the Vatican for the Confirmation of the Death of the Pontiff ceremony

Politics

1 week ago Conclave explained: Who will be the next Pope and how are they chosen?

A papal conclave will be formed with members locked inside the Sistine Chapel to take part in a very secretive voting process

Politics

1 week ago What is a conclave? Inside room where new Pope and leader of Catholic church chosen

The highly secretive meeting - the Conclave - to choose the next pope takes place inside the Sistine Chapel. It can take days for the 120 cardinals to select them

Politics

2 w. ago Hamilton town centre plans: council welcomes positive public response

South Lanarkshire officials say 80 per cent of views expressed in a public consultation were in favour of radical transformation plans

Politics