The longest conclave lasted almost three years. Thankfully, the timeframe has changed drastically in recent years.

Pope Francis's death at the age of 88 means the Catholic Church must choose a new leader. Here's how cardinals elect the next ...

Catholic cardinals are gathering at the Vatican to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21. Voting will take place in the Sistine Chapel, with ballots continuing in succession until ...

Simply put, a conclave is the assembly of cardinals that elects a pope. The word itself comes from the Latin "com" and ...

Cardinals attend a mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff, prior to the start of the conclave, at St Peter's Basilica in The Vatican, on May 7, 2025. The papal conclave has already begun, ...

There is no limit as to how long a conclave can last when electing a new Pope. One vote will be held on the first day of ...

Per Catholic doctrine, only baptized, Catholic males are allowed to be priests, who can then go on to be cardinals. Only male cardinals under the age of 80 can vote in a conclave, and only men are ...

Live cameras at the Vatican are showing black smoke, indicating the first vote for Thursday has not resulted in a majority for a papal candidate. The next vote will occur around 4:30 a.m. As the ...

The papacy is not the presidency. The conclave is not a campaign. Understanding the future of the Catholic Church requires ...

By the year 1550, ravioli, whole chickens and pies were some of the foods banned from being eaten in a conclave, as they were seen as risks to the secrecy that remains such a major part of the ...

Inside the secretive meeting, cardinals will use an array of objects, many steeped in tradition, as they elect the next pope.

Pope Leo XIV has revived a former Vatican tradition and granted employees a bonus of €500 ($568) for the election of each new ...