A cardinal with ties to Indiana has a shot of becoming the Vatican's next pontiff as ranking members of the Catholic Church meet in Rome this week to select a successor to Pope Francis, who died April ...

This week, 133 cardinals have gathered in the Vatican to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church. During their deliberations, the only indications of their progress are the regular plumes of smoke ...

White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel just after 6 p.m. Vatican time (noon ET) on Thursday, May 8, signaling to the world that a new pope had been selected. The papal conclave to elect Pope Francis ...

This story is no longer being updated. Visit the latest file, published Thursday afternoon, for updates. As the world watches and one of the largest religions on the globe awaits its new dignitary, ...

As the papal conclave continues, onlookers from around the world will watch for smoke in Vatican City, eager for the first update on who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church. On the morning ...

VATICAN CITY — White smoke poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the great bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled Thursday after cardinals elected the 267th pope to lead the Catholic Church ...

In its second round of voting, black smoke rose out of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling a failure to elect a new pope. The College of Cardinals − bishops and Vatican officials selected by ...

A change in popes — through death or resignation — is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the spiritual head of the global Catholic Church ...

It’s probably the most-watched smoke in the world: The billows of exhaust unfurl before the watchful eyes of thousands every conclave — the only communication allowed from the cardinals locked inside ...

The papal conclave to select the next pope began May 7, with USA TODAY providing live stream coverage. Cardinal electors will vote in secret, with white smoke signifying the election of a new pope.