Over 130 voting cardinals must decide whether to continue in the direction of Francis or elect a pope likely to choose a more traditional path.

On the eve of the conclave to elect the next pope, the world's smallest country, Vatican City, is engulfed in commotion as cardinals and pilgrims descend.

Cardinals have wrapped up their pre-conclave meetings in the Vatican, trying to identify a possible new pontiff to follow ...

The conclave to pick a new pope begins May 7. Find a quick guide to that process, watch "Conclave" author Robert Harris ...

Contenders for pope emerge from the U.S., Asia, and Africa—raising the chance of a non-European successor to Francis.

There is no formal candidate process for the College of Cardinals to pull from when selecting the next pope – meaning any ...

A rare adjustment has expanded the number of voting cardinals to 135, amplifying African representation in the selection of the next pope.

African outreach was among Pope Francis' legacies, observers say, with numerous visits and a message of mercy inspiring ...

Here’s a look at some of the leading papal contenders, with the proviso that favorites don’t typically end up getting the nod ...

First, those who embrace Pope Francis’ wide-ranging, modernising changes in the Catholic church. The reform-minded pope made ...