With Pope Francis' death in April 2025, Vatican City once again drew global attention. The world's smallest independent and Catholic heart held a secret meeting to elect a new pope, a conclave (a ...

(NEXSTAR) – At the final Mass at the Vatican Wednesday before the secretive conclave process officially kicked off, a sea of red and purple robes were visible in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Cardinals attend a final Mass celebrated by cardinals inside St. Peter's Basilica, before the conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Faithful watch a giant screen showing images of cardinals entering the conclave, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) ...

All eyes are on Vatican City Tuesday with just over a day to go until the start of the papal conclave to elect the 267th pope. It would be "unexpected" if the conclave goes past Friday, Cardinal ...

Cardinals attend a final Mass celebrated by cardinals inside St. Peter's Basilica before the conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Some wondered if the election of his successor would echo the events of “Conclave,” which depicted the notoriously top-secret rite against the backdrop of Vatican politics and power struggles.

VATICAN CITY - Hours before the cardinals, chanting in procession, entered the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the start of the conclave, a telling aside occurred inside St. Peter’s Basilica.

Under Pope Benedict XIV, Vatican employees were granted a 1,000-euro conclave bonus for the additional work carried out during the sede vacante period after the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005.