College of Cardinals
ANALYSIS: Pope Francis’ cardinals point the way to Catholicism’s future
By David Gibson — January 12, 2014
(RNS) A church for the poor, a church of the Southern Hemisphere, a church not focused on hierarchical perks, and a church led by pastors and doctrinal moderates: In naming his first batch of new cardinals on Sunday (Jan. 12), Pope Francis made some surprising choices that confirmed where he wants Catholicism to go in the future.
Could Pope Francis make women cardinals? A pipe dream, and an opening
By David Gibson — October 17, 2013
(RNS) There’s a saying in the Catholic Church that while only God can create the world, only a pope can create cardinals.
Pope Francis tells cardinals not to cede to ‘pessimism’
By Marco della Cava — March 15, 2013
ROME (RNS) Addressing the entire College of Cardinals, Pope Francis noted that "maybe half of us are in old age, which I consider to be the seat of wisdom."
Vatican makes final preparations for papal conclave
By Alessandro Speciale — March 11, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI's former personal secretary will return to Rome to assist the opening of the papal election in the Sistine Chapel, highlighting the unprecedented situation created by the resignation of a living pope.
Vatican goes high-tech to ensure conclave secrecy
By Alessandro Speciale — March 8, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The high-tech defenses the Vatican is deploying for next week’s conclave are so impressive that it will be a miracle if even the Holy Spirit can slip in to the Sistine Chapel to do its job.
Vatican: Conclave to start on Tuesday
By David Gibson — March 8, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The conclave to pick a new pope will begin on Tuesday, an apparent compromise between cardinals who wanted to get things going and those who wanted more time to size up potential contenders.
The papal election timeline: Coffee, cocktails, then conclave
By David Gibson — March 7, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Because the closed-door conclave doesn't allow cardinals to do much talking to each other, they're taking their time getting started to allow the electors to size up the candidates.
Cardinals hold first meeting but don’t set date for conclave
By Alessandro Speciale — March 4, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Roman Catholic cardinals will be called on to decide the start date of the conclave to elect a new pope, but they don't seem to be in a hurry to do so.
Choosing a new pope? There’s a Spotify playlist for that
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — February 28, 2013
The cardinal who will choose the next pope will pray for guidance, but all believers need to pray along, says theologian Timothy O'Malley, director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy.
Pope Benedict XVI leaves office, promises ‘obedience’ to successor
By Alessandro Speciale — February 28, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The papacy of Benedict XVI came to a quiet end at 8 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 28), making him the first pope in 600 years to voluntarily leave office.
Pope Benedict pledges obedience to his successor
By Alessandro Speciale — February 28, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI promised “unconditional” obedience to his successor during a farewell meeting with cardinals on Thursday.
ANALYSIS: Vatican intrigue is age-old part of papal politics
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — February 27, 2013
(RNS) The Vatican appears rocked by scandal and resignations just as church leaders must gear up to replace frail Pope Benedict XVI. But Vatican experts say papal transitions always generate intrigue.
Venting and vetting: The brutal side of papal politics
By David Gibson — February 25, 2013
(RNS) If far less expensive and not quite as mind-numbing as a U.S. presidential campaign, the condensed version of papal campaign politics is not much gentler, or necessarily more effective. Instead it can be nasty, brutish and short.
Pope allows cardinals to move up start of papal election
By Alessandro Speciale — February 25, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) With three days left before his resignation on Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI on Monday (Feb. 25) allowed cardinals to move up the start of the conclave that will elect his successor.
ANALYSIS: White smoke, black pope? The odds against an ‘Obama moment’
By David Gibson — February 21, 2013
(RNS) Will the conclave electing a successor to Pope Benedict XVI next month have an "Obama moment'' and pick a pope from outside Europe for the first time in modern history? Several factors are working against it.
