Simply put, a conclave is the assembly of cardinals that elects a pope. The word itself comes from the Latin "com" and "clavis," meaning "together" and "key," respectively – highlighting the absolute, ...

Pope Francis's death at the age of 88 means the Catholic Church must choose a new leader. Here's how cardinals elect the next pontiff at the conclave.

The Chicago-born pontiff is the first American to lead the Catholic Church, and while his positions on some of the church’s hot-button issues remain unclear, he has signaled continuity with his ...

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.

For the first time, the majority of cardinals to choose a pope are not from Europe, as Catholic demographics shift. But Europe remains the largest source of cardinals.

And yet, the conclave that concluded today in Rome has chosen the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church: ...

The question facing the conclave is whether the cardinals want to continue in the direction set by Pope Francis.

The term conclave refers to a private meeting or secret assembly, especially a meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals secluded continuously while choosing a pope, according to merriam-webster.com.

The papal conclave begins on May 7 ... according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website. Cardinals must be under 80 years old to cast a vote for a new pope.

The Roman Catholic cardinals from around ... the good that Pope Francis had on people in the church." A closer look: What to expect from the conclave that will choose Pope Francis' successor ...

The upcoming conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis will be the largest in the history of the Catholic Church, with 133 cardinal electors expected to gather in the Sistine Chapel on May 7 ...