African outreach was among Pope Francis' legacies, observers say, with numerous visits and a message of mercy inspiring ...

Despite the firestorm surrounding his "Pope Trump" post, President Donald Trump claimed that the outrage was not from the ...

Is there really a U.S. delegation of cardinals, a team that would wear the same jersey? Do these players feel like teammates?

The United States is the home country for 10 of the 133 cardinals eligible to vote for the next pope. That's more than any ...

The media have never had so much influence on the men who pick the pope.

VATICAN CITY — Cardinals wrapped up their pre-conclave meetings Tuesday, trying to identify a possible new pope who could ...

Here’s a look at some of the leading papal contenders, with the proviso that favorites don’t typically end up getting the nod ...

The secret election appears wide open but here are some of the names, in alphabetical order, being talked about as possible ...

After holding their last pre-conclave meeting Tuesday morning, cardinals who will elect the next pope have less than a day to ...

The papal conclave to select the new head of the Catholic Church begins May 7. We look ahead at Wednesday's proceedings and what makes this conclave different than previous years with NPR's Ruth ...

A chimney above the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican will signal the election of a new pope and leader of the Catholic Church.