ROME (WGEM) - 133 cardinals gathered at the Vatican on Wednesday to begin the centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis. This will be the most geographically diverse conclave in the ...

White smoke means a new pope has been chosen, while black smoke signals that a two-thirds majority vote has not yet been reached.

The potential influence of the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics attracts the attention of the secular world as well.

The Swiss Guard, the pope’s iconic bodyguards, look ceremonial but in the pageantry of the Renaissance-style uniform lies the ...

The conclave officially began Wednesday, with NBC News reporting at 11:44 a.m. ET (5:44 p.m. in Vatican City) that the doors to the Sistine Chapel had been sealed, and that only those involved in the ...

In a tradition that scholars date to the 19th century, smoke released from a chimney will be colored white if the cardinals ...

Voting will take place in the Sistine Chapel, with ballots continuing in succession until any candidate secures two-thirds of ...

During a Papal Conclave, the world will be watching for white or black smoke from the Vatican's chimney. Here's what it means ...

In a mix of fascination, irreverence and possible blasphemy, social media platforms have been flooded with videos and memes ...

While many eyes are on the Vatican conclave, which opened Wednesday, there’s something happening in Asia that’s worth watching closely.

No one knows how long it will take to elect the next Pope, but it's predicted to be at least a two or three-day wait.

The Vatican is governed by the Holy See, which oversees stipends and allowances given to the leader of the Catholic church ...