The College of Cardinals have exited the pro eligendo Pontifice Mass and will enter the Sistine Chapel to begin conclave in the next few minutes. Click the play button below to begin watching live streaming video of the conclave ..read more

Earlier today, the College of Cardinals voted to hold conclave on Tuesday, March 12. The cardinals will celebrate a pro eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the morning, and “in the afternoon the cardinals will enter into the conclave,” Father Lombardi confirmed. Source: National Catholic Register ..read more

The UK-based news service The Guardian has put together a video of the Pope's resignation address at a meeting of the cardinals, complete with English subtitles ..read more

Pope Francis has returned to the Vatican after an 11-day hospitalization for colon surgery. The Holy Father had been hospitalized on July 4 and underwent an operation to relieve severe stricture of the colon caused by colon pouches, specifically diverticulitis. Before his discharge, Pope Francis spent time with other patients in the Pediatric Oncology department on the 10th floor of the hospital, meeting with many young cancer patients. The pope's hospital stay took place in the wing reserved specially for papal medical emergencies, and he made use of the same suite where St. John Paul II stay ..read more

Watch the live online video stream of Pope Francis as he celebrates the canonization of two of his predecessors, Blessed Pope John XXIII and Blessed Pope John Paul II as saints. The Papal Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday and canonization ceremony in St. Peter's Square is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM CEST (4:00 AM EDT). St. John XIII St. John Paul II ..read more

For the first time in history, the Vatican is hosting a current pope (Pope Francis) and a retired pope (Benedict XIV), as the latter has returned now that his new home has been remodeled. From Catholic News Service: Pope Francis welcomed his predecessor, retired Pope Benedict XVI, to the Vatican May 2 outside the convent remodeled for the 86-year-old retired pontiff and five aides. Pope Francis and Pope Benedict entered the convent's chapel together "for a brief moment of prayer," said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman. Read more: Catholic News Service ..read more

What follows is the official English translation of Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi message delivered on Easter Sunday 2013. Happy Easter to all from your friends at The Pope Blog! Dear brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the world, Happy Easter! Happy Easter!  What a joy it is for me to announce this message: Christ is risen! I would like it to go out to every house and every family, especially where the suffering is greatest, in hospitals, in prisons …  Most of all, I would like it to enter every heart, for it is there that God wants to sow this Good News: Jesus is risen, there ..read more

On the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Pope Francis celebrated his inauguration Mass as Bishop of Rome. In his homily, he called upon world leaders and others in positions of power to be "protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment." Below is the official English translation of his full address. Dear Brothers and Sisters, I thank the Lord that I can celebrate this Holy Mass for the inauguration of my Petrine ministry on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the patron of the universal Church. It is a ..read more

The Mass for the Inauguration of the Pontificate of Francis is schedule for tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM CET (Rome Time), which is 4:30 AM EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has just published the official booklet for the inauguration, so you can follow along at home. The Vatican Information Service has also given this special release: Vatican City, 18 March 2013 (VIS) – In the press conference held today, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Press Office of the Holy See, focused on two themes: Pope Francis' first audiences and ..read more

On the eve of the inauguration Mass, the Vatican released the official coat of arms of the new Pontiff. On Pope Francis' coat of arms are three symbols: At the top is the "IHS" on the backdrop of a fiery sun, with the cross surmounting the "H". This is the symbol of the Society of Jesus, Pope Francis' religious order. Below the Jesuit symbol are the star, which represents the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the spikenard, which represents St. Joseph. The motto: "miserando atque eligendo" means "lowly but chosen". This motto is based on the Gospel account of the calling of St. Matthew, in which Je ..read more