By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Archbishop Gerhard L. Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was the first Vatican official formally confirmed in his post by Pope Francis and will be among the first 19 men the pope inducts into the College of Cardinals. Pope ...read more

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Even though Cardinal-designate Lorenzo Baldisseri will be elevated to the College of Cardinals during a formal ceremony Feb. 22, he already has a red cap from the pope. When then-Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected pontiff March 13 by his fellow cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, ...read more

  If the war in Syria continues another year there will be no Christians left in the country, according to one bishop in the region. Chaldean Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo made the comment during a meeting of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches, which is known by its Italian acronym ROACO. ...read more

If you joined us earlier this morning, you saw a spectacular liturgy from inside St. Peter’s Basilica. During this Mass, called the Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass, the cardinals prayed for the election of a new Supreme Pontiff. Salt + Light will continue its in-depth analysis and reporting throughout the coming days. We will be ...read more

Salt and Light producer Sebastian Gomes sits down with John Allen Jr. to discuss possible candidates for the Papacy. John is a multi-awarded journalist who specializes in Vatican affairs. ...read more

Photo: Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel at the beginning of the conclave at the Vatican on April 18, 2005. The eighth General Congregation of the College of Cardinals has decided that the Conclave will begin on Tuesday, 12 March 2013.  A Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica in the ...read more

In the weeks leading up to the conclave the Cardinals are meeting in Rome to discuss the state of the Church and the profile of the new pope. It is no secret that questions of administration and governance at the Vatican have been raised. But there are also serious conversations going on about evangelization, inter-religious dialogue, ...read more

On the evening of Wednesday March 6 at 5:00pm Rome time (11:00am ET/8:00am PT), the Prayer for the Church on the Occasion of the General Congregations of the College of Cardinals will take place at the Altar of the Cathedra in St. Peter’s Basilica. The order of the service is as follows: The prayer will ...read more

Tonight on Perspectives: The Church prepares for the last days of Pope Benedict’s pontificate and we bring you the reaction from one of the Cardinals at the consistory yesterday. ...read more

Tonight on Perspectives: The Holy Father presides over a solemn liturgy for cardinals and bishops who have died in the course of the year and we introduce you to the world of creche. ...read more