The folklore of the prophecy of St. Malachy says that Pope Francis may be the very last pontiff. Historians say that's doubtful.

The funeral mass for Pope Francis has officially begun at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, with the Sacred Book of Gospels placed on his coffin in a moving tribute. World leaders ...

Most likely the next pope will be one of the 135 men that make up the College of Cardinals and vote on Pope Francis' successor during the conclave.

The Vatican says leaked documents that seemingly undermined Pope Francis’ stated reason for restricting the old Latin Mass ...

Here’s who held the papacy before Pope Francis, how conclave works and how many conclaves there have been in the last 100 years. When was Pope Francis elected?

Guesses about who the next Roman Catholic pope will be often prove inaccurate. Before the selection of Pope Francis in 2013, many bookmakers had not even counted him among the front-runners.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Gerald Posner is the author of 13 books, including God's Bankers. Pope Francis’ sweeping reforms cleaned up some of the mess ...

But he clashed on several occasions with Francis, none more seriously than in 2020, when he and Benedict co-authored a book in advocating the “necessity” of continued celibacy for Roman ...

Cardinals have certainly already discussed Pope Francis’ potential successor, and have top contenders in mind to avoid a lengthy conclave.

COMMENTARY: Thus, it was hard for me to pick up what would be Pope Francis’ last encyclical and read it with receptivity. But ...

The body of Pope Francis was carried in a solemn procession Wednesday from his residence within the walls of the Vatican City to St. Peter's Basilica.