Sede Vacante

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Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, SJ, takes possession of his titular church in Rome, the Church of the Gesù, on Dec. 8, 2022.

Canon lawyer denies involvement in papal election reform, calling reports ‘a pure lie’

Nov 6, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Reports said Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda had been tasked by Pope Francis with drafting revisions to conclaves. Read more

Pope Francis delivered an address before praying the Regina Caeli on Divine Mercy Sunday April 16, 2023.

Analysis: Here’s how Pope Francis could influence the choice of his successor

Apr 18, 2023

By Andrea Gagliarducci

By the end of 2023, nearly 70% of the cardinals eligible to become the next pope will have been appointed... Read more

Pope Francis in April 2022

A question of ‘delicate balance’: How might Pope Francis reform the rules of the conclave?

Aug 25, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Who will manage the Vatican when a pope resigns, is unable to govern, or passes away? And according to which... Read more

Vatican post office sells over 150k Vacant See sets

Mar 7, 2013

The Vatican is now selling special stamps and envelopes that are made only when there is no Pope.  Read more

The Papal Apartments are sealed after Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican Feb 28, 2013.

Papal apartments, basilica sealed for sede vacante

Mar 1, 2013

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sealed off the papal apartments, marking the beginning of the sede vacante, the period when there is... Read more

CNA

Cardinals set date for meetings about next Pope

Mar 1, 2013

On the first day that the Church is without a Pope, Cardinal Angelo Sodano announced that the first general congregation... Read more

Latest news

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No, ‘AI Jesus’ isn’t actually hearing confessions: fact check

Pope Francis meets with the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican on Nov. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis: Desire and Christian hope can overcome ‘dangerous plague’ of nihilism

From left: John Hinshaw, Jonathan Darnel, Lauren Handy, Joan Bell, and Jean Marshall are among the pro-life activists who are still in prison or awaiting prison sentences on federal charges brought by President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice for protests at abortion clinics — but President-elect Donald Trump has signaled he will likely grant them presidential pardons.

Meet the pro-life prisoners whom Trump is expected to pardon

St. John’s Cathedral in the Netherlands is lit up for Red Wednesday on Nov. 23, 2022.

Churches around the world lit up red in honor of persecuted Christians

Despite an online petition posted to change.org in mid-October that garnered over 53,000 signatures in protest of the evergreen to be used for the Vatican Christmas tree being chopped down, the tree arrived as scheduled in St. Peter’s Square at 7 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2024.

Vatican Christmas tree wreathed in controversy over environmental objections

Father Max Josef Metzger, a Catholic priest executed by the Nazi regime in 1944 for his peace activism and ecumenical work, was beatified Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Freiburg, Germany.

Church beatifies German priest who was executed by Nazis in 1944

Cardinal Kevin Farrell celebrates Mass for the World Meeting of Families 2022 on June 25, 2022.

Pope Francis assigns U.S. cardinal to carry out ‘urgent’ overhaul of Vatican pension fund

“In Jesus there is no contradiction between truth and charity,” notes professor Marta Rodríguez Díaz, who teaches in the philosophy department of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.

Gender: The problem isn’t the term but the anthropology behind it, Catholic expert says

“We think of these stories of saints that have withstood all this persecution as belonging to the Middle Ages,” said Bill McGurn, godfather of Jimmy Lai. “It’s going on right now, and we can see it.”

Jimmy Lai’s godfather assesses trial: ‘He’s a real champion of freedom’

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Wyoming governor pledges to appeal after judge blocks state pro-life laws

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Nov 21
Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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