The death of a pope starts a centuries-old ritual involving sacred oaths by the cardinals electing a successor, the piercing of ballots with a needle and thread after they’re counted, and then burning ...

The papal transition follows ancient traditions, shifting spiritual leadership for over a billion Catholics and changing the head of Vatican City State.

A change in popes is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the ...

Pope Francis passed away at age 88 on April 21, just a day after an Easter Sunday appearance at St. Peter’s Square, where he ...