1 hour 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

16 h. ago Funeral of Pope Francis: John Swinney at 'very moving' funeral as Scots mark death of Pope

"Although it's a sad day for the Catholic Church , it's a day where we can celebrate a great leader, so we want to be part of it."

Events

16 h. ago AP PHOTOS: Notable moments from the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square

From nuns in black-and-white habits to suited dignitaries and ordinary faithful in baseball caps, a multitude gathered in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.

Culture

19 h. ago ‘I feel an orphan since the Pope’s death’ – Catholics at Westminster Cathedral

On Saturday multiple masses were held for Pope Francis at the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales.

Events

20 h. ago Francis hailed as ‘a pope among people’ as world leaders join 200,000 mourners

The Catholic faithful are bidding a final farewell to a religious leader dubbed the ‘people’s pope’.

Politics

26 h. ago The battle for the Catholic Church’s future will not be over doctrine

In choosing the next pope, disagreements will be over the Church’s ‘style’ — its way of being, culture and mindset

Events

29 h. ago Royals and refugees to come together in Rome for funeral of Pope Francis

At least 130 foreign delegations and an estimated 200,000 pilgrims to descend on St Peter’s Square on SaturdayAn extraordinary array of invitees, spanning heads of state and royals from around the world, as well as refugees, prisoners, transgender people and those who are homeless will descend on St Peter’s Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the groundbreaking liberal pontiff who led the Catholic church for 12 years.Francis died at the age of 88 on Monday at his home in Casa Santa Marta after a stroke and subsequent heart failure. He had been recovering from double pneumonia that had kept him in hospital for five weeks. Continue reading...

Events

31 h. ago As it happened: Coffin of Pope Francis sealed after 250,000 pay homage to head of Catholic Church

Pope Francis’s coffin was sealed after a quarter of million people visited the late spiritual leader, as heads of state fly in to attend Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square

Politics

35 h. ago Pope Francis funeral latest: Pontiff’s coffin sealed after 250,000 pay homage to head of Catholic Church

Pope Francis’s coffin was sealed after a quarter of million people visited the late spiritual leader, as heads of state fly in to attend Saturday’s ceremony in St Peter’s Square

Politics

41 h. ago So you saw 'Conclave' the movie. Here's what it got right – and wrong – about real

Speculation surrounding a conclave to elect a pope is a time-honored tradition

Politics

43 h. ago No crown, no glory: Pope Francis breaks with centuries of funeral rites

Simplified ceremonies mark late pontiff’s final push to reform Catholic Church

Politics

60 h. ago Leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales rules himself OUT of becoming next Pope

The leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has ruled himself out of running as the next Pope, MailOnline can reveal.

Politics

63 h. ago UK Cardinal tells of ‘weight’ felt ahead of conclave to choose new pope

Cardinal Vincent Nichols said Pope Francis had ‘died with his boots on’ and made a ‘total sacrifice’ in his life to the Church.

Politics

65 h. ago Who could be the new Pope? The cardinals who might become the next head of the Catholic Church

The late pontiff’s health concerns in recent years led to contenders to succeed him foreseeing a papabile ahead of his death

Politics

65 h. ago Conclave: Inside the secret election to choose the next Pope

The method the Catholic Church uses to select their leader has remained virtually unchanged for the last 800 years

Politics

3 d. ago ‘Who wept for these people?’ Francis’s papacy was defined by compassion for refugees

From personally promising to relocate vulnerable asylum seekers to speaking out against ‘cruel’ policies, the late pope was a voice for the marginalisedOn a glorious spring day almost a decade ago, an Airbus A320 took off from Mytilene airport on the Greek island of Lesbos. For what seemed like an age, a small group of bystanders, including officials and the media, watched in disbelief until the plane veered left over the sun-speckled Aegean Sea and its Alitalia livery could no longer be discerned. On board was Pope Francis, who had spent barely five hours on Lesbos, then at the centre of the refugee crisis on Europe’s eastern fringes.The whirlwind tour had been replete with symbolism but it was the pontiff’s fellow travellers who had caused such surprise. Moments after the head of the Roman Catholic Church had entered the aircraft, 12 refugees had also appeared, cheerfully making their way across the runway with expressions of stunned relief, their first taste of freedom after inca...

Events

3 d. ago How Pope Francis's unconventional funeral will draw in world leaders and captivate millions around the globe as 'humble' Pontiff is laid to rest

The pontiff died aged 88 on Easter Monday after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest, bringing to an end his 12 years as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Politics

3 d. ago Pope Francis' passing sees huge spike in Conclave streams as film explains process of new pope

Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday aged 88, just months after the hit film Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes was released, with the movie depicting how the Catholic Church select a new pope.

Culture

3 d. ago Inside 'secretive ritual' which is triggered after a pope dies and how new leader is chosen

Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, passed away on Monday, April 21, aged 88, leaving people wondering what will happen in the Vatican now and how a new leader will be selected

Events

3 d. ago People are only just discovering the very unexpected job Pope Francis had before becoming head of Catholic Church

People are shocked after learning the bizarre job Pope Francis had before becoming the head of Catholic Church. The Pope, who grew up in Buenos Aires, once worked as a bouncer.

Politics