With the cry of “Extra omnes” — Latin for “all out” — the great doors of the Sistine Chapel closed Wednesday and 133 cardinals began the secretive, centuries-old...

With all the pomp, drama and solemnity that the Catholic Church can muster, 133 cardinals on Wednesday began the centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis, celebrating a morning Mass...

India fired missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory in several locations early Wednesday, killing at least 26 people including a child, in what Pakistan's leader called an act of war. India...

The first clue of the next pope's direction will be the name the winner chooses. The announcement "Habemus Papam" - "We have a pope" - from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica is followed first...

A conclave is the centuries-old election of a pope that derives its name from the Italian "con clave" (with a key) to underscore that cardinals are sequestered until they find a winner. Cardinals...

Friedrich Merz succeeded Tuesday in his bid to become the next German chancellor during a second vote in parliament, hours after he suffered a historic defeat in the first round. The conservative...

In a forest near Berlin, the remains of 107 fallen Wehrmacht soldiers were ceremoniously interred last week. High school students placed white gerbera daisies on small black coffins, and...

In a historic first, conservative leader Friedrich Merz ’s bid to become Germany’s 10th chancellor since World War II failed in the first round of voting in parliament...

Cardinals electing a new pope have some fundamental questions to weigh, beyond whether to give the Catholic Church its first Asian or African pontiff, or a conservative or progressive. Although...

Cleaners and cooks. Doctors and nurses. Even drivers and elevator operators. The support staff for the cardinals who will elect the successor to Pope Francis took an oath of secrecy...