When Catholics around the world welcomed the first American pope, AP reporter Nicole Winfield was on the ground in Vatican City.

This was the ultra-secret process revealed in the book 'The Last Conclave' by Vatican experts Gerard O'Connell and Elisabetta Piqué. "It was Pope Francis' last surprise" . May 7, 2025. Black smoke.

VATICAN CITY — The first day of a secretive Vatican conclave ended Tuesday with black smoke billowing out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that cardinals had yet to decide on a new pope. Smoke ...

All 133 cardinals are gathered in the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave under strict secrecy, as the world watches and waits for the election of a new pope. Black smoke rose from the chimney around 9 pm ...

Following the death of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, more than 1 billion Catholics around the world wait with baited breath for the white smoke to emit from the Sistine Chapel, ...

It offers a rare glimpse into this ancient ritual, which is a process of prayer, discussion, spiritual reflection and divine ...