conclave
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.
Pope Francis firms up his legacy with appointment of new cardinals
By Thomas Reese — September 2, 2019
(RNS) — After Oct. 15, 53% of the cardinal electors will have been appointed by Francis.
Francis cardinals make up almost half of electors of next pope
By Thomas Reese — May 22, 2018
(RNS) — Pope Francis continues to remake the College of Cardinals so that almost half of the men who will choose his successor have been chosen by him.
Pope Francis’ cardinal choices bring surprises, especially for the US church
By David Gibson — October 10, 2016
(RNS) In giving red hats to U.S. churchmen for the first time, the pontiff passed over prelates favored by culture warriors of the right and chose more pastoral bishops. That's a big change.
Three years on, Pope Francis leaves conservatives feeling marginalized
By Reuters — March 12, 2016
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) They worry that behind the gentle facade lies a dangerous reformer who is diluting Catholic teaching on moral issues like homosexuality and divorce while focusing on social problems such as climate change and economic inequality.
Smoking gun? Pope Francis’ critics cite new book in questioning his papacy
By David Gibson — December 5, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) The furor stems from a behind-the-scenes account of the March 2013 conclave, presented in a new book about Francis titled “The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope.”
ANALYSIS: Pope Francis’ plan for reform: Convert the church
By David Gibson — March 5, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) As important as such structural reform can be, church leaders and Vatican insiders say Pope Francis is really focused on a more ambitious (and perhaps more difficult) goal: overhauling and upending the institutional culture of Catholicism.
On anniversary of resignation, Benedict XVI has no regrets
By Eric J. Lyman — February 11, 2014
ROME (RNS) Archbishop Georg Ganswein -- who works with Benedict XVI -- said one year after his resignation on Feb. 11, 2013, the former pope is at peace in his new role.
Update: U.S. denies spying on Vatican cardinals ahead of conclave
By Eric J. Lyman — October 31, 2013
ROME (RNS) “Assertions that NSA has targeted the Vatican, published in Italy’s Panorama magazine, are not true,” NSA spokeswoman Vanee’ Vines told the Los Angeles Times.
Report says U.S. tapped cardinals’ phones ahead of conclave
By Eric J. Lyman — October 30, 2013
ROME (RNS) The news magazine Panorama said the NSA eavesdropping program also listened in on calls to and from the Vatican, including the phones in the Santa Marta guesthouse that housed Pope Francis and the rest of the College of Cardinals.
Sistine Chapel pollution may lead to fewer visitors
By Eric J. Lyman — October 17, 2013
ROME (RNS) If a new air filter system can't control the levels of dust, humidity and carbon dioxide inside the Sistine Chapel, then Vatican officials would have to make the "painful decision" to limit visitors.
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 calls on Catholics to leave their comfort zone
By Alessandro Speciale — March 27, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) In his first general audience since his election to the papacy, Pope Francis on Wednesday (March 27) urged Catholics to leave their comfort zone to search for “lost sheep.”
Pope Francis opts for Vatican guesthouse instead of papal apartment
By Alessandro Speciale — March 26, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) With his move to a Vatican guesthouse, Pope Francis becomes the first pope since 1903 not to live in the regal papal apartment that overlooks St. Peter's Square.
ANALYSIS: How long will the pope’s honeymoon last?
By David Gibson — March 22, 2013
(RNS) Since the moment of his election on March 13, Pope Francis has been warmly embraced by his own flock and even the media. But some constituencies in the church are decidedly cautious or even unhappy with Francis, and their grumbling may portend future troubles for the pope.
