Page 2 - Christianity

Cardinals begin conclave to elect new pope with faithful seeking direction

The papal conclave will begin with a single ballot on the first day and then four rounds of voting each day afterward until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote

Pope Francis and the soul of economics: Rethinking global priorities

One of the more surprising - and often missed - aspects of Francis' 12-year papacy was his emergence as an incisive economic visionary, urging the world to place moral values above markets and metric

Conclave to elect new pope to begin May 7 as cardinals build consensus

Catholic cardinals on Monday set May 7 as the start date for the conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor, delaying the secret voting for two days to help them get to know one another better and find consensus on a candidate before they are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel. The cardinals set the date after arriving for the first day of informal meetings following Pope Francis' funeral Saturday. In a chaotic scene, journalists shouted out questions to the cardinals about the mood inside, whether there was unity, and when the conclave would begin. A reporter for a satirical Italian television programme repeatedly asked whether an Italian cardinal who has been convicted by the Vatican criminal court on finance-related charges would be allowed to vote. There is the hope of unity, said Argentine Cardinal Angel Sixto Rossi, the 66-year-old archbishop of Cordoba who was made a cardinal by Francis in 2023. Many cardinals cited the desire to continue Francis' pastoral focus on people who

'Unity' could potentially turn divisive for cardinals electing new Pope

It is hard to imagine a less offensive rallying cry, but in ears of Francis' most committed supporters, it rings as a code word for rolling back Francis' more inclusive vision of Roman Catholic Church

Thousands attend Pope Francis' funeral, ceremony reflects his vision

Pope Francis is being laid to rest Saturday in a ceremony reflecting his priorities as pope and wishes as pastor: Presidents and princes will attend his funeral in St. Peter's Square, but prisoners and migrants will usher him into the basilica where he will be buried. As many as 200,000 people are expected to attend the funeral, which Francis choreographed himself when he revised and simplified the Vatican's rites and rituals last year. His aim was to emphasize the pope's role as a mere priest and not a powerful man of this world, the Vatican said. It was a reflection of Francis' 12-year project to radically reform the papacy, to emphasize its pastors as servants, and to construct a poor church for the poor. It was a mission he articulated just days after his 2013 election and explained the name he chose as pope, in honour of St. Francis of Assisi, who had the heart of the poor of the world, according to the official decree of the pope's life that was placed in his coffin Friday ...

Cardinals set Pope Francis' funeral for Apr 26, public viewing from Apr 23

Cardinals have taken their first decisions following the death of Pope Francis, setting Saturday as the date for his funeral and allowing ordinary faithful to begin paying their final respects starting Wednesday, when his casket is brought into St. Peter's Basilica. The cardinals met for the first time Tuesday in the Vatican's synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis' successor, as condolences poured in from around the world grieving history's first Latin American pope. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10 am in St. Peter's Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. US President Donald Trump has announced he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend Saturday's funeral Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected. Francis died Monday at age 88 after suffering a stroke that put him in a coma and led his heart to fail. He had been recovering in his apartment after being ...

Who are 4 Indian cardinals that will participate in election of new Pope?

Among the 135 cardinals from around the world who will elect the next head of the Christian faith following Pope Francis' passing, four are from India

Cardinal Farrell is named 'camerlengo,' running Holy See between popes

Cardinal Kevin Farrell remembers the day Pope Francis asked him to be the camerlengo, the Vatican official who runs the Holy See after the death of one pope and before the election of another. They were flying back to Rome from the 2019 World Youth Day in Panama, and Francis popped the question in business class. Farrell, 77, had been in Rome only a few years, summoned out of the blue from his job as bishop of Dallas, Texas, to reorganize the Vatican's laity office, a key part of Francis' reforms. Three years into the job, Francis asked him to take on another role that is steeped in myth and mystery but also has real-world responsibilities: managing the Vatican as camerlengo or chamberlain during the often traumatic interregnum between papacies and helping to organise the conclave to elect the next pontiff. I said to him I would accept the position but on one condition, Farrell recalled in a 2022 interview, smiling as he remembered their airborne conversation. The condition was th

These cardinals are seen as leading contenders to become next pope

A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal. It implies the sacred and secretive process is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christ's Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church. Still, there are always front-runners, known as papabile, who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope much like those depicted in last year's Oscar-nominated film Conclave. Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under age 80 and thus eligible to participate. Pope Francis, who died Monday, appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture. Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that Jorge Mario Bergoglio was considered too old to be elected pop

Pope Francis (1936-2025): The Argentine pontiff who led with mercy, reforms

Pope Francis passed away at 88. As the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, he was renowned for his humility, advocacy for the marginalised, and efforts to reform the Catholic Church

Andhra Pradesh CM approves ₹30 crore honoraria for 8,427 pastors

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has approved Rs 30 crore in honoraria for 8,427 pastors for seven months, the government said on Thursday. The honoraria, amounting to Rs 35,000 for each pastor, cover the months from May to November 2024, according to an official release. "CM Chandrababu Naidu has given the green signal to release Rs 5,000 per month to 8,427 pastors," the statement said. The release also noted that the Andhra Pradesh government announced this decision on the eve of Good Friday, calling it "good news for pastors.

Will Jesus Christ return in 2025? Crypto enthusiasts place their bets

Believe it or not, people are placing real money on whether Jesus Christ will return to Earth in 2025. Let's understand what is driving this unusual speculation

Pope Francis greets public in first appearance since hospital release

Seated in a wheelchair and assisted by a nasal cannula for oxygen, Pope Francis was rolled to the front of the altar where he warmly greeted the gathered faithful with a wave

What is Unification Church and why did a Japanese court order it dissolved?

A controversial South Korean church with powerful political connections faces dissolution in Japan after a Tokyo court ordered a revocation of its legal status after the government accused it of manipulative fundraising and recruitment tactics that sowed fear among followers and harmed their families. The Tokyo District Court's ruling would end the Unification Church's tax-exempt status in Japan and force it to liquidate its assets. The church said it is considering an immediate appeal to the country's highest court. The Unification Church has faced hundreds of lawsuits in Japan from families who say that it manipulated members into draining their savings to make donations, but for decades it largely escaped official scrutiny and maintained close links with the governing Liberal Democratic Party. That changed in 2022, when former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated. The man accused of shooting Abe allegedly was motivated by the former prime minister's links to the church and

Watch: Viral pastor Bajinder Singh seen assaulting man, woman in office

A viral video shows Bajinder Singh throwing a mobile phone at a man before hitting him with a purse. He then slaps the man in front of other staff members

Pope Francis advisers say he'll recover, a 'new stage' is opening for him

Pope Francis is recovering well from pneumonia and a new stage in his pontificate is opening, two of his closest advisers said, offering notes of optimism as the 88-year-old pontiff hit the five-week mark in his hospitalisation. Archbishop Edgar Pea Parra said he had found Francis in good humour and serene during the three times he has visited the pope at the Gemelli hospital in Rome. Pea Parra, who is the Vatican chief of staff, visited Francis on February 24, March 2 and March 9 along with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the lone Vatican officials who have called on him aside from his personal secretaries. The pope will recover," Pea Parra said on the sidelines of a book launch. The pope is recovering well. The doctors say that he needs some time, but it's going well progressively." I found him well, serene, in good humour, and just like him tough with the desire to go forward, he said. The Vatican press office reported Friday that Francis' overall ...

Pope in hospital for 3 wks with double pneumonia. How serious is that?

Friday marks three weeks since Pope Francis was hospitalised for bronchitis, which then led to double pneumonia. He was also treated for a complex lung infection and has suffered several respiratory crises requiring further treatment, including machines to help him breathe. Doctors not involved in the pope's care say the road ahead could be tricky, even if the 88-year-old pope fully recovers. Here's a look at the pope's hospitalisation and what doctors will be watching out for in the days and weeks ahead. Why was Pope Francis hospitalized in the first place? The pope was hospitalised February 14 after suffering from weeks of bronchitis that made it increasingly hard for him to speak. Several days later, Vatican authorities said he had a complex infection in his respiratory system requiring more targeted treatment. The pope then developed pneumonia in both lungs and began receiving steroid and antibiotics, among other treatments. How bad is this? He's an 88-year-old who's been in

Pope Francis records audio, thanks people from hospital for their prayers

Pope Francis recorded an audio greeting Thursday to thank people for their prayers as he continued his recovery from double pneumonia in stable condition with no new respiratory crises or fever, the Vatican said. The audio was to be broadcast at the start of the evening Rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square, Vatican officials said. Given the continued stability of Francis' condition, doctors said they didn't expect to provide a new medical update until Saturday. His prognosis remains guarded, meaning he is not out of danger. The Vatican said Francis continued respiratory and other physical therapy Thursday, worked, rested and prayed from the 10th floor papal suite at Rome's Gemelli hospital. The pope has been sleeping with a non-invasive mechanical mask to guarantee that his lungs expand properly overnight and help his recovery. He has been transitioning to receiving high-flow oxygen with a nasal tube during the day. His routine now includes physical therapy, along with treatment for

Pope Francis off ventilation, signals he's overcoming respiratory risks

Pope Francis remained in stable condition and didn't need any mechanical ventilation Sunday, the Vatican said. It was a sign that he had overcome the possible complications from a respiratory crisis on Friday and that his breathing function overall was improving as he recovers from double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope did continue to receive high flow supplemental oxygen after Friday's coughing episode, which sparked fears of a new lung infection. Doctors in their late Sunday update said Francis remained stable but again referred to the complexity of his overall condition and kept his prognosis at guarded, meaning he wasn't out of danger. Francis, who has been in the hospital since Feb 14, rested, prayed in his private chapel and participated in Mass for the rest of the day after having a visit in the morning from the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and his chief of staff, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra. The content of their talks wasn't known, but even when at th

Pope had bronchial spasm, his prognosis remains guarded, says Vatican

Pope Francis suffered an isolated coughing fit on Friday that resulted in him inhaling vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the Vatican said in relaying a setback in his two-week long battle against double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope remained conscious and alert at all times and cooperated with the maneuvers to help him recover. He responded well, with a good level of oxygen exchange and was continuing to wear a mask to receive supplemental oxygen, the Vatican said. The development marked a setback in what had been two successive days of increasingly upbeat reports from doctors treating Francis at Rome's Gemelli hospital since February 14. The episode, which occurred in the early afternoon, resulted in a sudden worsening of the respiratory picture. Doctors decided to keep Francis' prognosis as guarded and indicated they needed 24-48 hours to evaluate how and if the episode has impacted his overall clinical condition. The episode, which doctors described as an .