Zoom out: John has been the most popular name for popes, with 21 popes selecting the name in honor of John the Evangelist.

He’s known as “John XXIV,” a reference not only to the reform-minded spirit of “Good Pope John,” but also to the fact that ...

What happens during the interregnum period? Tom Reese, S.J., explains the time between one pope's death and the succession of ...

When the cardinals meet for the conclave, they gather in the Sistine Chapel. All cardinal electors must swear an oath of ...

The date was chief on the agenda of cardinals holding informal meetings Monday to work out church business following the ...

The six-kilometer (about 3.5-mile) funeral procession that carried Pope Francis from St. Peter’s to St. Mary Major was filled ...

Bishop John Dolan gave a sermon on the Sunday after Pope Francis died in which he recalled the church leader's tendency to break barriers.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Mercy – the cornerstone of Pope Francis’ teaching and ministry – must guide the Catholic Church through ...

Carlo went on pilgrimage to see John Paul II, offered up his suffering from cancer for Benedict XVI, and was later beatified ...

Saturday’s funeral and burial of Pope Francis mark the beginning of nine days of official mourning at the Vatican, with ...

The world's eyes are on the Vatican at the moment, with a new pope soon to be decided through the secretive process of the ...

Jorge Bergoglio enters history as the first American Pope. During his time heading the Catholic Church, he reformed Vatican ...