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Pope Francis delivers his homily during the closing Mass of the synod on synodality in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 27, 2024. (CNS/Lola Gomez)

Cardinals poised to pursue the more inclusive, open church championed by Pope Francis

Vatican

Late pontiff's legacy is a conclave flashpoint. Will the cardinal electors continue down a path blazed by the first Latin American pope? Or will they pull back from Pope Francis' initiative known as synodality?

Editors' Choice

Focus

A prelate takes an oath of secrecy May 5, 2025, in preparation for the conclave at the Vatican to elect a new pope. The staff of the cardinals' residence hall, medical assistants and even the cardinals' bus driver took an oath swearing to protect the cardinals' privacy and the conclave's secrecy. (CNS/Vatican Media)

In Focus

The conclave: A detailed explainer of the secret ritual that elects the pope

On May 7, in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, the conclave for the election of the new pope — the Catholic Church's most secret and fascinating ritual — will begin.

Most Read Stories

Pope Francis washes the foot of a prison inmate during the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper at Rome's Casal del Marmo prison for minors March 28, 2013. (CNS/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters)
Vatican News

#1
In final act of mercy, Pope Francis donates entire private bank account to prisoners

The 200,000 euro donation captures the very essence of Francis' pontificate, said Bishop Benoni Ambarus, auxiliary Bishop of Rome.

ByCamillo Barone
U.S.-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, leaves the Vatican Synod Hall April 22, 2025, after the first general congregation of the College of Cardinals. (CNS/Vatican Media)

#2
The first American pope? This cardinal has the best chance of making history in this conclave

It is typically absurd to think of an American as pope. But in this conclave, a Chicago-born Augustinian friar who has spent much of his life outside of the United States is worthy of serious consideration.

ByChristopher White
Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, begins a news conference to present an update on the process for the synod on synodality, at the Vatican Aug. 26, 2022. (CNS/Paul Haring)

#3
This papal front-runner from a small island has a big role in the global church

As secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech oversaw the Vatican meetings that advanced Francis' vision of synodality — a church where everyone participates in decisions and the mission.

ByChristopher White

#4
Cardinal Ambongo could be first African pope in over 1,500 years

#5
Conclave roundup: Conservative cardinals attack Pope Francis' legacy in US and Italian media

#6
Catholic outrage grows over 'Pope Trump' image on official White House media

Opinion

Outside agendas will not dictate this conclave

Could the next pope be an American? It's unlikely.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a National Day of Prayer event, May 1, 2025, in the White House Rose Garden. (Official White House Photo/Molly Riley)

'Catholics loved it' says Trump over sacrilegious AI image of himself as pope

Despite the firestorm surrounding his "Pope Trump" post, President Donald Trump claimed that the outrage was not from the millions of Catholics offended by his actions, but instead engineered by the "fake news media."

Why political analogies don't work with the church

NCR Voices

Michael Sean Winters: Everything you need to know about this week's conclave

NCR Voices
A cross outside the U.S. bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection is covered with photos and prayers for the victims of clergy sexual abuse in a 2011 file photo. (CNS/Nancy Wiechec)

Why the next pope should be an American

Guest Voices

Thanks largely to the United States' unique civil justice system and robust free press, bishops here have been forced to adopt more prudent policies on abuse than bishops in any other country have.

Vatican

only love thumbnail
Francis, the comic strip

Testing Leo comic strip

Testing Leo, the comic strip: Today is all about perspective.

Pope Francis delivers his homily during the closing Mass of the synod on synodality in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 27, 2024. (CNS/Lola Gomez)

Cardinals poised to pursue the more inclusive, open church championed by Pope Francis

Late pontiff's legacy is a conclave flashpoint. Will the cardinal electors continue down a path blazed by the first Latin American pope? Or will they pull back from Pope Francis' initiative known as synodality?

ByJames V. Grimaldi, Soli Salgado
A prelate takes an oath of secrecy May 5, 2025, in preparation for the conclave at the Vatican to elect a new pope. The staff of the cardinals' residence hall, medical assistants and even the cardinals' bus driver took an oath swearing to protect the cardinals' privacy and the conclave's secrecy. (CNS/Vatican Media)

The conclave: A detailed explainer of the secret ritual that elects the pope

On May 7, in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, the conclave for the election of the new pope — the Catholic Church's most secret and fascinating ritual — will begin.

ByCamillo Barone
Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez of San Salvador, El Salvador, arrives to attend a general congregation meeting of the College of Cardinals in the New Synod Hall at the Vatican April 29, 2025. At age 82, he cannot vote in the conclave to elect a new pope. (CNS/Pablo Esparza)
Vatican News

Conclave roundup: Lies and rumors about cardinals abound ahead of conclave

 Brian Burch, nominated by Donald Trump to become the next ambassador to the Holy See, tied to fake news about the health of Cardinal Pietro Parolin. 

ByRhina Guidos

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Brian Burch’s CatholicVote in spat with Italian media over Parolin smear

'Pope Francis deserves better': Tomb inscription draws criticism

Vatican News

How Pope Francis holds powerful sway over the 2025 conclave

No time to turn back on clean energy

There is broad public support for continuing bipartisan investments in the environment and green energy.

From left: Srs. Rebecca Conlon, Yoonmi Kim, Ha-suk Shin, and Anne Carbon, Columban Sisters from Latifabad, Hyderabad, in Pakistan, participate in a demonstration on Nov. 6, 2019, advocating for greening initiatives in Hyderabad following the 2019 Amazon synod. (Jawed Munawar)
Viewpoints

Inspired by Laudato Si', sisters turn Francis' vision into ecological action

We asked panelists: What can we learn through, from and for nature? What kind of threat does climate change pose to peace? What are you doing to change it? Responses reflect the living legacy of Pope Francis' love for creation.

ByThe Life Panelists
mountain

Pope Francis showed me that climate justice is connected to all I care about

Laudato Si' opened my eyes to the fact that all injustices are made worse when you add the climate crisis.

ByKayla Jacobs
Oak Flat, known as Chi'chil Biłdagoteel among the Apaches, has been at the center of a land struggle for nearly two decades. A campground since the 1950s, the 6.7-acre area in southeastern Arizona has been a sacred space for 1,500 years for Apache and other Native tribes, who view it as a direct corridor to the Creator. (NCR photo/Brian Roewe)
Justice

Apache, allies again ask courts to block Oak Flat transfer to foreign mining company

Apache Stronghold and its attorneys have argued the land transfer and subsequent destruction of Oak Flat would violate the Apache people's rights to worship under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

ByBrian Roewe

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

I converted to Catholicism because of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si'

Faith

Digital wake remembers Pope Francis' global impact on the climate movement

Viewpoints

On climate, Pope Francis was hard-hitting and hopeful

Culture

Francis: The pope who left a fingerprint on pop culture

The culture’s fascination with Francis’ papacy indicated a hunger for the simplicity and humility he projected. It was an antidote we craved.

"Cross in the Mountains," by Caspar David Friedrich (Artvee)

At the Met, Caspar David Friedrich exhibit highlights nature-based mysticism

"The Soul of Nature" is the first thorough survey of Caspar David Friedrich's career to be staged in the United States, and is currently on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through May 11.

ByMichael Centore

Now 'Francis' belongs to the pages

The real Pope Francis will be the focus of many official and scholarly examinations, but Francis and the other characters in the comic strip will also have a place among other beloved cartoon characters that live forever.

ByPat Marrin

Martin Scorsese and Pope Francis teamed to produce a documentary called 'Aldeas — A New Story'

Martin Scorsese is producing a documentary made with Pope Francis that will chronicle the late pontiff's work with cinema in the global educational movement he founded before his death.

ByJake Coyle, Associated Press

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Who gets to speak on the Catholic internet – and who doesn't?

Bourbon-plumped currants enhance the flavor of hot cross buns for Easter

Book Reviews

'Bending Toward Justice' raises a prophetic call for synodality and community

Columns

Francis dreamed of a house always open to all

"The church must carry on the dream of rebuilding. The Spirit is with us who remain to continue the work. We have inherited his tenderness, his open, genuine smile, his hands ready to bless and embrace, his mercy offered to all. Francis was for us, the image of the Father's love," writes Sr. María Baffundo.

Pope Francis meets migrants during his visit to the Mavrovouni camp for refugees and migrants on the island of Lesbos, Greece, Dec. 5, 2021. (CNS/Reuters/Guglielmo Mangiapane)

Sisters want next pope to carry on Francis' humanity, focus on most vulnerable

Many on the margins felt like Pope Francis was the last world leader defending them. Now, with a conclave ahead, sisters in social ministries say they hope the next pope shares Francis' preference for the poor.

ByRhina Guidos
St. Ann of Providence Sr. Severine Menezes, with her sisters during their general chapter in Rome with Pope Francis (Courtesy of Severine Menezes)

Indian Catholic sisters acknowledge Pope Francis' gifts of 'strength, dignity and space'

The Conference of Women Religious India said that Pope Francis had given them "more strength, dignity and space in the church." Sisters told Global Sisters Report about their memories of Francis and his impact on them. 

ByThomas Scaria
Pope Francis burns incense in front of a Marian statue after consecrating the world, and in particular Ukraine and Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a Lenten penance service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 25, 2022. A year later, he asked Catholics worldwide to renew the consecration and pray for peace. Pope Francis, formerly Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died April 21, 2025, at age 88. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Sisters, despite complicated feelings, say Francis 'never forgot Ukraine'

No one doubted the late pope's commitment to a peaceful solution in Ukraine. But even among Ukraine's small Catholic community, some felt that Francis was not robust enough in his condemnation of Russia.

ByChris Herlinger

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Francis left us a witness 'with the flavor of the Gospel'

Ban on altar girls upsets nuns in Sri Lanka

Francis' footprints on Latin American religious life