Letters from Rome 2025—The Papal Interregnum No. 4 - First Things

Letters from Rome 2025—The Papal Interregnum No. 4 - First Things

Successor . . . to Whom? by George Weigel In the first days of discussion in the General Congregations preparing for the conclave that will begin on May 7, several cardinals have said that the conclave’s task is to find the “successor of Pope Francis.”  That is right, chronologically. It is not right theologically.  Conclave 2025’s task is not to find the successor of Francis but the successor of Peter.  Conclave 2013 was not charged with findin…

Letters from Rome #5

Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, concelebrates Mass with cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican April 29, 2025, on the fourth day of the “novendiali” — nine days of mourning for Pope Francis marked by Masses. (CNS photo/Chris Warde-Jones) LETTERS FROM ROME—2025 The Papal Interregnum # 5 Edited by Xavier Rynne II 2 May, 2025 NOTES ON THE REAL ROMAN CONVERSATIONS   By George …

This is a conclave of superlatives. On May 7, 2025, more cardinals of the Catholic Church will enter the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican than in any previous papal election. 133 cardinals are expected to arrive. Then there will be deliberations behind closed doors, until a sufficient majority is achieved to elect a new head of the Church. There is another record: the cardinals come from 71 countries. In the last papal election, in 2013, 48 countri…

Conclave 2025: More Voters Than Ever to Elect Francis' Successor – Exaudi

The Vatican recognizes the validity of the votes of all cardinals under 80 years of age, exceeding the traditional limit of 120 electors