The history of the papacy is filled with unusual, dramatic events. From a pope put on trial after death to a resignation that broke a 600-year tradition, the Vatican’s past is anything but predictable ...

Voting Under ‘Lock and Key’ In 1274, Pope Gregory X established the basics of the conclave system still used today – most importantly, that cardinals would be completely isolated and confine ...

Chicago-born Wilton Gregory was appointed the first African American cardinal in 2020 by Pope Francis. Until his January retirement, Cardinal Gregory was archbishop of Washington, D.C. Gregory ...

Prevost is one of 137 special bishops able to vote to elect a new pope. And Cardinal Wilton Gregory, 77, the socially progressive archbishop of Washington, D.C., until retiring in January ...