Who Will Be the Next Pope? Here Are Some Possible Contenders.
Experts say there isn’t a single front-runner, but several names have been cited as indications of the direction the Roman Catholic Church might take.
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Francis Opened Discussions to Those Outside the Church Hierarchy. This Cardinal Would, Too
Cardinal Mario Grech comes from Malta, but is known to cardinals around the world for his role as the secretary general of an advisory body of bishops.
Cardinal Parolin, Leader of Papal Conclave, Is Also a Top Candidate
Cardinals have talked about Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, as someone who could have a steady, bureaucratic hand on the church’s wheel.
Could the Next Pope Be From Africa?
Nowhere in the world is the Roman Catholic Church growing faster than in Africa, a continent Francis showered with attention.
Previously Unpublished: A Look at One of the Last Things Pope Francis Wrote
In a foreword to a book, he articulated the church’s position on marriage.
As Cardinals Prepare to Elect a Pope, One Motto Is ‘Unity.’ That’s Divisive.
Some see the byword as a rallying call in a conservative campaign to reverse Francis’ push for a more inclusive church.
How Francis Wooed Donors
Efforts to fix the Vatican’s broken finances helped restore confidence among big givers. But the work isn’t finished.
Pope Francis, Who Sought a More Pastoral Church, Laid to Rest in a Majestic Ceremony
In a solemn and majestic funeral on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Roman Catholic Church on Saturday laid to rest Pope Francis, the first South American pope, whose simple style, pastoral vision and outsized footprint on the world stage both …
How Francis Wooed Donors
Efforts to fix the Vatican’s broken finances helped restore confidence among big givers. But the work isn’t finished.
Francis Wanted a Church of the Poor and Put It Into Practice
Around St. Peter’s Square, the pope offered services to the homeless and migrants, in ways that often did not go down well with his fellow clerics.