Sede Vacante

The Latest

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

Pope Francis prays during Mass at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024

Pope Francis prays for victims as death toll in German Christmas market attack reaches 5

Catholic actor David Henrie and his wife, Maria, with children during their mission trip to Guatemala with Cross Catholic Outreach.

Catholic actor David Henrie says mission trip with Cross Catholic Outreach left big impact

Bassem Giacaman in his shop in Bethlehem in December 2024. The artisans in Bethlehem are almost all Christians. They primarily work with olive wood. Most of the businesses in Bethlehem are family businesses.

War, economic struggles threaten Bethlehem’s century-old crafts tradition

Pope Francis addresses cardinals and senior Vatican officials during his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia, Dec. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis warns against gossip, celebrates family life in Vatican Christmas messages

Former Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro and 35 other people, including a Catholic priest, were charged by the country's Federal Police on Nov. 21, 2024, on suspicion of the crimes of violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.

Two arms of Brazilian bishops’ conference: Throw the book against alleged coup plotters

Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg in Germany.

German bishops respond to deadly Magdeburg market attack, call for prayer and peace

The Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.

A visual tour of the Holy Doors Pope Francis will open for the 2025 Jubilee

Exiled Bishop Rolando Álvarez speaks at a Mass in Seville, Spain, on Dec. 19, 2024.

Bishop Álvarez celebrates public Mass for Nicaragua

Vandalism at a Heartbeat of Miami pregnancy center in Hialeah, Florida, July 3, 2022.

Florida woman convicted in conspiracy targeting pro-life pregnancy resource centers

French artist Claire Tabouret poses following a press conference after winning with The Atelier Simon-Marq, the selection to create new stained-glass windows in six chapels of the south aisle of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral in Paris on Dec. 18, 2024.

Stained-glass windows at Notre Dame to be replaced, new modern design revealed

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Dec 22
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