7 h. 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

9 h. 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

26 h. 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

32 h. ago Lobbying for next pope heats up with outcome less predictable than ever

Francis sought to lower age profile and broaden spread of college of cardinals and for most it is their first conclaveConservative and progressives will intensify efforts to shape the future of the Roman Catholic church in the coming days as 135 cardinals prepare to be sequestered in the Sistine Chapel in order to choose a successor to Pope Francis.The group of cardinals who will vote for the next leader of about 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide are less predictable than ever before, with the vast majority having no experience of a papal conclave. A much wider geographic spread of cardinals adds to the uncertainty. Continue reading...

Politics

3 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

4 d. ago Faithful queue around the clock to see the Pope: Vatican abandons plans to close St Peter's Basilica overnight as 20,000

Some 19,430 people had been to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City 'to pay homage to Pope Francis' less than 12 hours after his coffin was transferred there.

Culture

5 d. ago Raphael’s School of Athens review – rewarding study of Renaissance fresco

During the latest in Howard Burton’s Masterpiece series, the art historian turns his low-tech but scholarly attention to Raphael’s interior decoration in the Vatican palaceHere is the latest in the series of high-minded, low-tech studies of Renaissance art history from Howard Burton, a theoretical physicist turned art historian, who has launched a series of films called, with admirable Ronseal-ness, Renaissance Masterpieces. Having already looked over Botticelli’s Primavera, Burton now turns to Raphael’s wall fresco in the Vatican palace, arguably the high point of the artist’s prodigious output and a work to rival Michelangelo’s Sistine chapel decorations.Burton has already tackled The School of Athens as part of his mammoth survey of Raphael’s entire oeuvre, Raphael: A Portrait, but here he gets to drill down in considerable detail for the film’s 81-minute running time. Admittedly, the visuals are as rudimentary as Burton’s previous offerings – it looks like a glorified PowerPoint...

Events

5 d. ago JD Vance shows 'lack of respect' following Pope's death as he breaks key rule

The image inside the Sistine Chapel, taken by official White House photographer Emily Higgins during the VP’s Easter weekend visit, quickly ignited online outrage

Events

5 d. ago JD Vance sparks fury by breaking Vatican protocol...can you see what he did wrong?

The seemingly innocuous snap showed the Vice President holding his son inside the Sistine Chapel over Easter weekend.

Politics

6 d. ago What tourists can expect from visiting Rome and the Vatican after the death of Pope Francis

Tourist attractions including the Sistine Chapel may be closed during key dates, but there is still some availability for flights and hotels

Events

6 d. ago From 'conclave' to 'white smoke,' a glossary of terms used in a papal transition

A change in popes is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the spiritual head of the global Catholic Church and the Vatican’s head of state

Events

7 d. ago What are the church's rites after the death of a pope and the election of a new one?

The death of a pope triggers a centuries-old ritual to elect a new one

Politics

7 d. 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

7 d. ago Conclave: the Vatican’s secret process for choosing a new pope

Cardinals will soon gather under Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling to elect Francis’s successorLatest updates: tributes paid after Pope Francis dies aged 88The next pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals, the Catholic church’s most senior figures appointed by the pontiff, who will make their way to Rome in the next few days for the conclave. The name comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with key”, indicating the closed process of electing a pope.There are more than 220 cardinals from more than 70 countries, but only about 120 are cardinal electors (those over the age of 80 are excluded). Two-thirds of the cardinal electors have been chosen by Francis in the past 10 years and largely reflect his vision of a more inclusive church. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. 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