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El cardenal Robert Francis Prevost, quien ha elegido el nombre papal de León XIV, aparece en el balcón central de la Basílica de San Pedro en el Vaticano el 8 de mayo de 2025, tras su elección durante el cónclave. Es el primer Papa proveniente de EE.UU. de la historia. (Foto OSV News/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)

The 267th pope, the first from the United States, projected humble clarity from the moment he stepped out onto the balcony above the throngs in St. Peter’s Square. His first words, were … more

By Jay Nies and Cindy Wooden | 5/15/25

A worker arranges printed newspapers for circulation with a picture of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States, at the Nation Media Group printing press on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, May 8, 2025.

10 things to know about Pope Leo XIV

As the Catholic Church welcomes its first American pope, here are 10 things to know about Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert F. Prevost. Chicagoan. Pope Leo was born Sept. 14, 1955, and … more

By Maria Wiering, OSV News | 5/9/25

Pope Francis greets then-Cardinal Robert F. Prevost during a consistory in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Sept. 30, 2023. U.S.-born Cardinal Prevost became the first American pope in history when he was elected at the Vatican May 8, 2025, choosing the papal name Leo XIV. He succeeded Pope Francis, who died at age 88 April 21, 2025.

Pope Leo to inaugurate his papacy May 18; has full calendar already

Pope Leo XIV will officially inaugurate his papacy with Mass in St. Peter’s Square May 18. Although he was pope from the moment he accepted his election May 8, the inauguration Mass … more

By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service, Vatican City | 5/9/25

Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, waves to the crowds in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican after his election as pope May 8, 2025. The new pope was born in Chicago.

First American pope: White Sox fan, Villanova grad, Peru missionary, Vatican leader

Standing on loggia of St. Peter’s basilica, newly elected Pope Leo XIV smiled, waved and appeared to hold back emotion May 8 as he introduced himself to the world as the 266th successor to St. … more

By Maria Wiering, OSV News | 5/9/25

Pope Leo XIV celebrates his first Mass as pope with the cardinals who elected him in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican May 9, 2025.

New pope calls for Christian witness in world that finds faith ‘absurd’

Where Christians are “mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied” is where the Catholic Church’s “missionary outreach is most desperately needed,” Pope … more

By Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service, Vatican City | 5/9/25

Full text of first public homily of Pope Leo XIV

CLICK HERE to read a related story. Here is the full text of the first public homily of Pope Leo XIV, given at a Mass for the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel May 9, 2025: I begin … more

OSV News | 5/9/25

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, presides over the Mass “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” (“for the election of the Roman pontiff”) in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican May 7, 2025.

Choose the pope the world needs, dean urges cardinals before conclave

At Mass before the conclave that will elect the next pope, the dean of the College of Cardinals urged his brothers to choose the shepherd the Church and all of humanity need “at this difficult … more

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service, Vatican City | 5/7/25

Father Mike Schmitz, a priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Minn., and host of the Bible in a Year podcast, speaks during the July 18, 2024, second revival night of the National Eucharistic Congress at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

‘Bible in a Year’ host shares how all can join in the conclave’s ‘sacred moment’

As the cardinals prepared to enter into the Sistine Chapel to vote on the next supreme pontiff May 7, faithful across the world were watching in anticipation. Host of the “Bible in a … more

By Jack Figge, OSV News | 5/7/25

Cardinals from around the world line up in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel March 12, 2013, to take their oaths at the beginning of the conclave that would elect Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as Pope Francis, who died April 21, 2025.

Conclave 101 for kids

As a member of the “JPII generation,” I didn’t experience a church conclave until I was a college student. Even then, it was difficult to understand the ins and outs of what was … more

By Colleen Pressprich, OSV News | 5/6/25

The Sistine Chapel, arranged for the conclave to elect a new pope which begins May 7, is seen at the Vatican May 6, 2025.

UPDATED: Conclave has most cardinals, widest geographical mix in history

The conclave that begins May 7 is expected to be the largest in history, with a wide geographical mix of cardinal-electors. While 115 cardinals took part in the conclaves in 2005 and 2013, 133 … more

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service, Vatican City | 5/6/25

Cassocks for the new pope are arranged in the antechamber of the Sistine Chapel, sometimes called the “Room of Tears,” May 6, 2025, ahead of the conclave which begins May 7.

Papal ring, insignia destroyed at cardinals’ final meeting

On the eve of the conclave that will decide the next pontiff, the ring and lead seal of the late Pope Francis were destroyed in the presence of members of the College of Cardinals in the … more

By Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service, Vatican City | 5/6/25

A framed image of Pope Francis, draped in black, is displayed in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City, as Archbishop Shawn McKnight and more than 40 priests of the diocese offer a Memorial Mass for the pope, who died on April 21 at age 88.

Pope Francis laid to rest after eventful papacy

CLICK HERE to read a related story. Archbishop Shawn McKnight thought back to how Pope Francis, when first introduced to the world, asked people in St. Peter’s Square to give him a … more

By Jay Nies | 4/28/25

A single white rose lies on the tomb of Pope Francis in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major on April 27, 2025.

Bishop-Emeritus Gaydos: Pope Francis did what God sent him to do

CLICK HERE to read a related story. When the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio rose to the papacy, Bishop Emeritus John R. Gaydos immediately saw the significance of the name the new pope had … more

By Jay Nies | 4/28/25

Pope Francis greets Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States, in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican April 22, 2024. In an interview days after the death of the pope, Cardinal Pierre said now was "a moment for the Holy Spirit."

Conclave is opportunity to ‘open ourselves to the Spirit,’ Cardinal Pierre says

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States, reflected on Pope Francis’ legacy and the evangelizing mission of the Church in an interview that took place during the early … more

By Ines San Martin, OSV News, Rome | 4/26/25

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, blesses the coffin as he leads the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 26, 2025.

Poor and powerful pray for eternal repose of a pope ‘with an open heart’

SCROLL THE ARROWS to see more photos. CLICK HERE to read the homily from the Funeral Mass. Pope Francis was “a pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone,” said … more

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service, Vatican City | 4/26/25

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, uses incense to bless the casket of Pope Francis during the pope's funeral in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 26, 2025.

Homily for the funeral Mass of Pope Francis

CLICK HERE to read a related story. Editor’s note: This is the English translation of the prepared text of the homily, delivered in Italian by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the … more

By Cardinal Givanni Battista Re, Vatican City | 4/26/25

Pope Francis leads a prayer service in an empty St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in this March 27, 2020, file photo. The Vatican has published a book commemorating the prayer service, which made a strong impression on people around the world in the same month COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.

The best of Francis: Five unforgettable moments

As the world absorbs the news of the death of Pope Francis ― and before the ever-busy oddsmakers and deep insiders begin the game of papabile speculation that accompanies every papal death and … more

By Elizabeth Scalia, OSV News | 4/21/25

Pope Francis greets a child from the popemobile after giving his Easter blessing to thousands of people in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 20, 2025. Pope Francis, formerly Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died April 21 at age 88.

Pope Francis: A pope of surprises to the very end

From the moment of his election, Pope Francis made clear from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica that his first mandate was to serve as bishop of Rome and be close with the people. "We take up … more

By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News | 4/21/25

Pope Francis receives gifts from Holy Cross Father John I. Jenkins, who at that time was president of the University of Notre Dame, center, and Holy Cross Father Robert A. Dowd, who was president-elect, left, during a meeting with the university's board of trustees at the Vatican Feb. 1, 2024.

‘Pope of the people’: Catholic leaders recall Pope Francis as champion of mercy, love

Calling Pope Francis “a modern-day prophet,” Kerry Alys Robinson said the late pope “read the signs of the times and awakened us to meaningful change in our behavior ― within the … more

By Maria Wiering, OSV News | 4/21/25

Imagination, outreach part of pope’s ‘precious legacy,’ cardinal says

Pope Francis brought “a breath of the Spirit to the church, truly leading it to go out” into the world with the Gospel, said Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of … more

By Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service, Vatican City | 4/21/25

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Pope Leo XIV chosen to lead the Church

The 267th pope, the first from the United States, projected humble clarity from the moment he stepped out onto the balcony above the throngs in St. Peter’s Square. His first words, were …