April 2025

Vatican drivers, staff to swear oath of secrecy ahead of conclave

Junno Arocho Esteves · April 29, 2025

One by one, placing a right hand on the Book of Gospels, staff driving, cooking, cleaning and caring for the cardinals who will elect a new pope will swear an oath of perpetual secrecy about the election of the 267th successor of St. Peter.

Cardinal Collins set for second conclave

Joins Cardinal Leo for May 7 conclave to choose new pope

Quinton Amundson · April 29, 2025

After participating in the solemn procession on April 23 that moved the body of Pope Francis from his private Vatican City residence to St. Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop emeritus of Toronto, began walking across St. Peter’s Square towards his luncheon destination.

Unprecedented shift carries Liberals to victory

Quinton Amundson · April 29, 2025

Canadian voters have spoken and chose to give the Liberal Party a fourth term in power as Mark Carney maintained his hold on the Prime Minister’s office.

How the conclave works: It's guided by a rule book and a prayer book

Cindy Wooden · April 30, 2025

The conclave to elect a new pope, scheduled to begin May 7, is governed by two texts: a rule book and a prayer book.

Cardinals approve electors for conclave, formally ask for prayers

Justin McLellan · April 30, 2025

The College of Cardinals confirmed that 135 members are eligible to participate in the conclave, the Vatican announced, and they asked the faithful to accompany them in prayer as they prepare to elect the next pope.

The extraordinary ordinariness of Francis’ funeral

Peter Stockland · April 30, 2025

The most extraordinary aspect of the funeral Mass for Pope Francis was its astonishingly beautiful ordinariness.