The oath-taking is being held in the Pauline Chapel at the Vatican for all those assigned to the upcoming conclave. They include clerics in support roles, including confessors speaking various ...

As a fireworks expert tests the Vatican's contemporary system for "holy smoke," Catholic cardinals mull their divergent priorities for Pope Francis' successor.

Robert Harris praises the secret process of electing Pope Francis's success, saying political parties could learn from it.

Smoke signals have occurred at mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon and evening. The longest conclave took three years.