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 ...

As with any new papacy, a quick look at their first appointments and audiences inside the system offers at least a small ...

ABC7's Liz Nagy spent almost two weeks reporting from the Vatican as the Catholic Church elected Pope Leo XIV as its next leader. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch Nagy and an ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

Over 130 voting cardinals must decide whether to continue in the direction of Francis or elect a pope likely to choose a more traditional path.

The papacy is not the presidency. The conclave is not a campaign. Understanding the future of the Catholic Church requires moving beyond the simplistic binaries of liberal versus conservative and ...