The upcoming conclave will be directed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the next eligible most senior cardinal bishop and the Vatican’s secretary of state.

The only time papal power changes hands is when a pope dies or resigns. At that time, a whole series of rites and rituals ...

As depicted in the film “Conclave,” the dean plays an important role in the life of the Catholic hierarchy, a point of ...

The current dean is Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91. The vice dean is Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81.

The dean of the Roman Catholic Church’s College of Cardinals is a 91-year-old Italian who has spent most of his career ...

When Pope John Paul II died on the evening of April 2, 2005, the whole world knew it would be coming at any moment. He had ...

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – APRIL 13: Pope Francis, accompanied by his personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti, greets the ...

The conclave to select a new pope will be sharply different from the body that chose Francis in 2013. Experts say that could ...

Thousands of people stood in line from three to five hours to see the pope, according to a small sample of visitors.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinals will meet Tuesday at the Vatican to begin scheduling Pope Francis' funeral and burial, planning ...

Archbishop (now cardinal) Leonardo Sandri was in the papal apartments and called down to Monsignor (now Archbishop) Renato Boccardo, who was leading the rosary and about to start a procession in ...