mean that Pius XII had decided on a pro-French or pro-democratic foreign policy. It meant primarily that the new Pope had picked the most competent diplomat whom he could find to head the Papal ...

After Pope Francis’ funeral, 135 cardinals will gather for a conclave to elect a new pope. The traditions include oaths of secrecy, paper ballots and white smoke from a chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

Of those popes, Francis had the ninth-longest papacy.Over the past 200 years, the longest papacy was that of Pope Pius IX, who served over ... they take on a new papal name that replaces their ...