cardinals

Pope Francis needs to reform papal election process — carefully

By Thomas Reese — March 5, 2024
(RNS) — The process for choosing a pope is not divinely inspired. It is a human creation that has changed over time and can change again..

New crop of cardinals shows Francis’ push for dialogue, whatever the cost

By Claire Giangravé — September 28, 2023
(RNS) — From the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to relations with China and Russia, Pope Francis has made dialogue a key theme of his pontificate, a principle reflected in his latest crop of new cardinals.

Getting ready for the next conclave

By Thomas Reese — September 19, 2023
(RNS) — Pope Francis' cardinal electors do not know each other well; they should take their time to elect a pope.

Francis now has the cardinals he needs for the next conclave. Is it enough?

By Thomas Reese — July 17, 2023
(RNS) — The College of Cardinals has never been so diverse — or unpredictable.

The legacy of a decade of Pope Francis

By Thomas Reese — March 6, 2023
(RNS) — Francis has opened windows that are difficult to close.

Vatican cardinal sues for defamation in Quebec assault claim

By Nicole Winfield — December 14, 2022
ROME (AP) — Ouellet’s countersuit, filed Tuesday in the Superior Court in Quebec, repeats the cardinal’s firm denial and says he has no recollection of meeting his accuser.

Hong Kong court convicts Cardinal Zen, 5 others over fund

By Kanis Leung — November 25, 2022
HONG KONG (AP) — While the cardinal has not yet been charged with national security-related charges, he was charged with failing to properly register a fund aimed at helping democracy protestors.

Pope in Quebec amid decline of Catholic Church in province

By Rob Gillies — July 27, 2022
QUEBEC CITY (AP) — Although nearly all of the province’s 6.8 million French speakers have Catholic roots, fewer than 10% attend Mass regularly, compared with 90% several decades ago.

Pope Francis appoints cardinals, setting stage for election of his successor

By Thomas Reese — May 31, 2022
(RNS) — The pope has made the College of Cardinals more Asian and African — and more likely to elect a successor who will follow his policies.

Avoiding a deadlocked conclave

By Thomas Reese — May 17, 2022
(RNS) — Before he dies or retires, Pope Francis needs to make changes in the process of electing a new pope to avoid the possibility of a deadlocked conclave.

Pope decries divisions caused by old-school liturgy fans

By Frances D'emilio — May 8, 2022
ROME (AP) — Francis pressed his papacy’s battle against traditionalists, whose prominent members include some ultra-conservative cardinals.

Worse than bungling, McCarrick report shows Vatican failed to take abuse seriously

By Thomas Reese — November 11, 2020
(RNS) — The Vatican report on McCarrick shows that something worse than mere incompetence was at work in the Vatican’s failure: clericalism.

With 9 new electors, Pope Francis remakes the college of cardinals

By Thomas Reese — October 25, 2020
(RNS) Over seven years, Pope Francis has gradually remade the college of cardinals, making it less European and more African and Asian.

Pope names 13 new cardinals, cements majority vote and the power to reshape the Church

By Claire Giangravé — October 5, 2019
Vatican City, (RNS) — With the creation of these new Catholic princes who share Francis’ emphasis on a missional and evangelizing church, Francis has now named a total of 91 new cardinals, and more than 52% of the voting cardinals.

New cardinals: The men are the message

By Thomas Reese — September 12, 2019
(RNS) — By making these men cardinals, the pope is handing them megaphones.
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