Nation & World

Pope Leo XIII is depicted in this official Vatican portrait. He laid the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching with his landmark 1891 encyclical "Rerum Novarum," addressing the rights and dignity of workers in the face of industrialization. (OSV News photo/Library of Congress)
Who was Pope Leo XIII, the father of social doctrine?
The crowd waves Puerto Rican flags and other flags in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on the second day of the conclave as white smoke billows from the chimney indicating a new pope has been elected. (OSV News photo/Claudia Greco, Reuters)
Here's what happens after a new pope is elected
A man holding a rosary and U.S. flag reacts as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who has chosen the papal name Leo XIV, appears on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican May 8, 2025, following his election during the conclave. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Dylan Martinez, Reuters)
Trump, US political leaders congratulate Pope Leo XIV: 'A great honor for our country'
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, subdean of the College of Cardinals, (left) and Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, concelebrate the Mass "Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice" ("for the election of the Roman pontiff") in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican May 7, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)
Choose the pope the world needs, dean urges cardinals before conclave
Cardinals celebrate the Mass "Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice" ("for the election of the Roman pontiff") in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican May 7, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)
Conclave has most cardinals, widest geographical mix in history
Women react as black smoke billows from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel May 7, 2025, on the first day of the conclave. The black smoke indicated that cardinals did not elect a new pope. (OSV News photo/Eloisa Lopez, Reuters)
Conclave: First ballot fails to elect pope
Ranking officers of the Vatican police and the Pontifical Swiss Guard place a beaded rope and seal on a Vatican office in the Apostolic Palace May 6, 2025. Buildings along the path cardinals may take from their residence to the Sistine Chapel during the conclave to elect a new pope have been sealed off. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) Editors: Highest quality available.
As conclave begins, it's business as usual at the Vatican … sort of
pilgrim sites
Francis' final gift to Gaza: Popemobile will be transformed into mobile clinic for children
Cardinals process at the beginning of the Mass on the nine days of official mourning for Pope Francis, at the Altar of the Confession in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican May 4, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
At final memorial Mass, Pope Francis remembered as tireless shepherd 
Workers on scaffolding May 2, 2025, attach the stove pipe to the stove that will be used to burn ballots during the conclave to elect a new pope in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. Cardinals under the age of 80 will enter the conclave May 7. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Creation, Last Judgment, stoves: Workers ready Sistine Chapel for conclave 
White smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on March 13, 2013, at the Vatican, signaling that Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis, was elected the 266th Roman Catholic pontiff. The cardinals will meet again on May 7, 2025, to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who died April 21. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Where – and when – to watch for white smoke
The conclave to elect a new pope, scheduled to begin May 7, is governed by two texts: a rule book and a prayer book.
How the conclave works: It's guided by a rule book and a prayer book
A close-up shows Cardinal Baldassare Reina, papal vicar of Rome, with his hands folded in prayer during the Mass on the third day of the "novendiali," nine days of mourning for Pope Francis, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 28, 2025. The Pontifical Missions Societies USA is inviting faithful to pray for a specific cardinal elector who will vote for the next pope in the conclave that begins in Rome May 7, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Conclave prayer campaign for cardinals seeks to put 'faith into action'
Cardinals Luis José Rueda Aparicio of Bogotá, Colombia, left, and Rubén Salazar Gómez of Bogotá, right, approach the Petriano entrance of the Vatican next to St. Peter's Square to attend the seventh general congregation meeting of cardinals April 30, 2025. (CNS photo/Kendall McLaren)
Cardinals approve electors for conclave, formally ask for prayers
Then-Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory leads a special liturgy in renewing the consecration of the U.S. to the care of our Blessed Mother at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington May 1, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (OSV News photo/Tyler Orsburn)
May 1 marks 5th anniversary of consecrating US to Mary as COVID declared a pandemic
Benedictine Abbot Donato Ogliari, abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, center, offered a spiritual meditation April 29, 2025, in the Vatican synod hall to cardinals attending the general congregation before the conclave begins. The abbot is seated between Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Build communion with diversity, abbot tells cardinals before conclave
A group of pilgrims from Quito, Ecuador, poses for a picture as they approach St. Peter's Square during the Jubilee of Teenagers at the Vatican April 27, 2025. (CNS photo/Justin McLellan)
At Jubilee of Teenagers, grief is mingled with joyful hope for church's future
Undated illustrations of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Teresa of Avila are pictured in a combination photo. St. Thérèse of Lisieux is the patron of missionaries and missions and St. Teresa of Avila was mystic and founder of the Discalced Carmelites, and the first female declared to be a doctor of the church. (OSV News files/Nancy Phelan Wiechec/Crosiers)
The Little Flower and the Great Doctor: Àvila, Lisieux to hold events commemorating Carmelite saints
Members of the College of Cardinals pray at the tomb of Pope Francis and attend vespers at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome April 27, 2025. Cardinals and the faithful visited the Marian basilica to offer their prayers and respects. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Cardinals, faithful flock to Rome's center to pray at pope's tomb
Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm and Lutheran Archbishop Antje Jackelen of Uppsala, primate of the Church of Sweden, present Pope Francis with an icon of St. Francis of Assisi following the pope's general audience June 14, 2017, at the Vatican. The artist, Lars Gerdmar, held the icon during the presentation of the gift, which was an expression of gratitude for Pope Francis' visit to Sweden last October. Pope Francis, formerly Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died April 21, 2025, at age 88. (
How Pope Francis drew inspiration from his namesake's vision, actions
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, center, leads cardinals in prayer during their first general congregation April 22, 2025, in the Vatican Synod Hall. To Cardinal Re's left is U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, and to the left is Archbishop Ilson Montanari, secretary of the College of Cardinals. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Top contenders for papacy after Francis
Pope Francis embraces a young person while greeting visitors as he rides the popemobile around St. Peter’s Square before his weekly general audience at the Vatican Nov. 27, 2024. Pope Francis, formerly Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died April 21, 2025, at age 88. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
'The young pope': Pope Francis' legacy with young people
People stand in line outside the Vatican to pay their respects to Pope Francis, lying in state in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 23, 2025. Public viewing was to continue until April 25, the night before the late pope's funeral. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)
More than 19,000 people pay homage to pope in first nine hours
Pope Francis speaks to people who find themselves in a situation of economic hardship at the house of the Missionaries of Charity in Marseille, France, Sept. 23, 2023. Pope Francis, formerly Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died April 21, 2025, at age 88. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope Francis called for the economy to heed -- not kill -- 'the cry of the poor'
Kurt Martens, a professor of canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, talks to Catholic News Service in Rome about the rules governing a conclave to elect a new pope March 12, 2025. (CNS photo/Robert Duncan)
Real conclaves: They aren't the thrillers seen in film, professor says
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