Category: Feature Stories

Speculation is rife in St. Peter’s Square about who it could be. Africa and Asia are high on the agenda, but even cardinals are facing the harsh reality. The Archbishop of Algiers, Jean-Paul Vesco, said, “It’s a bit like soccer. People talk a lot about African teams. But in the end, the attention is focused on the European teams.” At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, “Extra omnes”—‘Everyone out’—except for the cardinals was the order of the day. The Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo’s unique frescoes, was sealed. Inside, the first round of…

From May 7 to 19, 133 cardinals will elect a new pope in the Vatican. Here you can find all the information about the election process and the favorites. Following the death and funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 and was buried in Rome the following Saturday, all eyes in the Vatican are now on the future. The conclave, which is scheduled to run until May 19, begins on Wednesday, May 7. If no pope has been found by then, there will…

Preparations for the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, which begins on Wednesday, are in full swing.Cardinals deliberate in two sessions: Will an important decision be made today?Two general congregations of cardinals are planned for today, Monday, to prepare for the conclave – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Until now, the cardinals have only met once a day. Two meetings are planned for Monday, which insiders see as a signal that the purple bearers consider further talks on the profile of Pope Francis’ successor…

The conclave begins in Rome on Wednesday. With the exception of two cardinals, all those eligible to vote have already arrived to prepare for the papal election. They will be accommodated in single rooms and must hand in all electronic devices, such as cell phones. The windows in the room are sealed, and the shutters are closed. There is no internet or telephone reception, said Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki from Cologne, who is taking part in a papal election for the second time. “We are then really cut off from…

The cardinals preparing for the conclave emphasize the need to elect a pope from Africa or Asia who can meet the challenges of the modern Church. A “Superman” is also mentioned among the candidates. The cardinals discuss the possibility of electing a pope from Africa or Asia.They emphasize the need to renew the Church and tackle global challenges.A person with extraordinary abilities, referred to as “Superman,” is mentioned among the candidates.The cardinals attending the pre-conclave congregations emphasize that the Church faces many challenges. In interviews with the Italian press, they…

White smoke over St. Peter’s Square announces unmistakably: the Chair of Peter is occupied again; a new pope has been elected. What name will he take? Because nomen est omen. The choice of the pope’s name is a process. It gives an initial indication of the direction in which the new Pope wants to steer the Church. The next pope can choose from 83 names that his predecessors have borne – or, like Francis, adopt a name that has never been used. The top pope names are “John” (23 times),…

According to Travelbook voting, only one metropolis on the continent is more beautiful than the Austrian capital. Europe is large and has many beautiful and unique places to offer, including over 40 capitals that couldn’t be more different. But which metropolis is actually worth a visit? The online travel magazine Travelbook wanted to find out from its community.More than 200,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram have revealed which European capital they have enjoyed the most while traveling. The most beautiful capital was chosen from the 14 most frequently mentioned cities.…

On Wednesday, the cardinals will enter the conclave in the Sistine Chapel. On that day, a mass is celebrated first, then the procession into the Sistine begins. The first ballot takes place in the afternoon. As things stand, 133 cardinals will elect the new pope; two prelates have canceled due to illness. The so-called pre-conclave, the informal consultations of the cardinals in the synod hall, is currently underway. Pietro Parolin is highly regardedThe former Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin (70), is considered an up-and-coming candidate to succeed Pope Francis.…