The Latest Breaking News from the Catholic Church

The conclave that begins in Vatican City on Wednesday is the process of electing the next leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Shrouded in mystery, with all those involved sworn to secrecy on threat of ex-communication, what do we know about what goes on behind the sealed doors of…

Cardinals from all over the world will gather in conclave on Wednesday to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

The 133 cardinal electors will begin the process of choosing the new pope when the conclave begins in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon and they cast their first vote.

Pope Francis’s successor will be elected in the coming days in a millennium-old ceremony known as the papal conclave. During the conclave, the 135 eligible Cardinal Electors of the Catholic Church will sequester themselves and elect a new pope in isolation.

The late pontiff was the first ever to style himself Pope Francis, a name chosen in honour of the 13th-century saint St Francis of Assisi.

The United States is the home country of 10 of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope of the Catholic Church

Pope called for ‘authentic and lasting peace’ in Ukraine and ceasefire in Gaza

The next pontiff will have to re-establish cordial and deep relations between the Church and Western countries, especially the US.

Pope Francis appointed women to key Vatican posts. Will his successor consider women as deacons and priests next?