Conclave 2013

What’s in store for the new pope's first days?

by John L. Allen Jr.

If it hasn’t happened by the time you are reading this newspaper, sometime very soon the Catholic church will have a new pope. Naturally the world will be waiting to find out...
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Governance a top issue in 2013 conclave

by John L. Allen Jr.

Eight years ago, when the cardinals of the world gathered to elect a successor to Pope John Paul II, their watchword was “continuity.” Buoyed by the massive outpouring of grief...
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We need a pope able to think, willing to learn

by John Wijngaards

Essay: We can't forget the advice of Teresa of Avila, who wrote that given the choice between a saintly confessor and one who is a good theologian, trust the...
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Flavor from campaign season in Rome

by John L. Allen Jr.

John Allen in Rome: The conclave has brought everyone to Rome, including -- of course -- the crazies. Here's a snapshot.

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Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope

by John L. Allen Jr.

John Allen in Rome: Today, meet Cardinal Peter Turkson, who figures prominently on the short list of possible African candidates for pope.

by John L. Allen Jr.

John Allen in Rome: For the first time, an American pope seems thinkable, and Cardinal Sean O'Malley has gotten surprising buzz.

Reforming the Vatican Curia

Thomas Reese | Mar. 12, 2013

Many of the cardinals are looking for a pope who can reform the Vatican curia, but it is not clear what they mean by “reform.” “Reform” is, after all, in the eye of the beholder.

I would distinguish between two types of reform: 1) Better management, 2) Comprehensive reform.

Much of the scandals surrounding the curia recently are simple management problems: financial corruption, sexual impropriety, petty infighting among factions, leaking of documents. Dealing with these issues is neither rocket science nor theology.

Church's teaching on ecology still light green

Sean McDonagh | Mar. 12, 2013

In my 1990 book, The Greening of the Church, I argued that concern for God's creation was low on the list of Catholic priorities. In the intervening years, concerns for the planet have increased at the level of papal teaching and in local churches.

Papabili who just missed the cut

John L. Allen Jr. | Mar. 11, 2013

Now that my "Papabile of the Day" series is over, several readers have asked if there were cardinals who just missed the cut, meaning contenders I would have liked to profile if time had permitted, even if I regard them as long shots.

At one level, I'm tempted to say I would have liked to profile all 115 electors, so no matter what happens I can't possibly be wrong!

Seriously, however, there are a few plausible candidates I would have liked to get into the mix had not the clock run out.

Beneath the color commentary on the conclave

Eugene Cullen Kennedy | Mar. 11, 2013

To the media, reduced to "Dancing with the Stars" after the Super Bowl and the Oscars until re-entering Eden as the Masters Golf Tournament blooms again, the gods have suddenly delivered a gift seemingly from heaven, a surprise papal resignation and a conclave to elect a new pope.

There will be a new pope by St. Patrick's Day, but the timing was so good for the media that you would think that, for his resignation, Pope Benedict XVI had the same reporter adviser who told Pancho Villa to postpone his revolution until after the World Series.

Round four: conclave of the People of God

Pam Cohen | Mar. 11, 2013

And then there were five.

Three weeks ago, we started with 117 eligible cardinals in the College of Cardinals. Now with three rounds of voting under our belts, we have our top five of the cardinals that you, the readers, think will become the next pope.

Below are the five cardinals who received the most votes in round two. Of those five, choose the man you think will be voted to become the next pope (not the person you would like to see become the next pope).

What would Christ say if he could see the church today?

Fr. Peter Daly | Mar. 11, 2013

Parish Diary: We Catholics need to step back from the pomp and power and consider the image we project. Perhaps it is time for us to downsize.

Day before papal vote, talk shifts to ritual

Joshua J. McElwee | Mar. 11, 2013

Rome dispatch: Today, the cardinals focused on the rituals involved with conclave, including what the smoke announcing the new pope's election will look like.

Editorial: Time for courage from those who have most to lose

NCR Editorial Staff | Mar. 11, 2013

In the opening days of the general congregations, the series of meetings the College of Cardinals convene in the lead-up to the conclave that will choose the next pope, an idea was floated in the Italian press about a way to clean up the governance issues that have plagued the Vatican under Pope Benedict XVI’s reign. The idea was to elect one of the over-80-year-old cardinals as pope. Such a pope, a curial old hand, would have a clear understanding of how the Curia actual works and could rein it in.

French cardinal says race still wide open

John L. Allen Jr. | Mar. 11, 2013

Journalists are often derided as a fairly un-churched bunch, but yesterday the 5,000-plus reporters covering the conclave swelled the churches of Rome to catch a glimpse of cardinals saying Mass, hoping to pick up some hint of what to expect when things get underway tomorrow.

On that front, probably the most interesting insight came from Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, France.

Arising issues for the theologian in chief

by Joshua J. McElwee

Whoever is chosen as the new bishop of Rome will become the global theologian in chief. Here are three trends he might have to tackle.

Cardinal Schönborn: It is 'a time of thirst' for the church

by Joshua J. McElwee, Dennis Coday

Rome dispatch: Cardinal Christoph Schönborn spoke at a memorial service for a Hungarian martyr, which he says shows "what is really important."

by John L. Allen Jr.

All Things Catholic: Need a refresher on what happens before and during a conclave? You've come to the right place.

National Catholic Reporter

The Independent News Source

Conclave 2013

What’s in store for the new pope's first days?

Governance a top issue in 2013 conclave

We need a pope able to think, willing to learn

Flavor from campaign season in Rome

Papabile of the Day: The Men Who Could Be Pope

Buzz grows in Rome for Boston's O'Malley

Reforming the Vatican Curia

Church's teaching on ecology still light green

More stories from Rome on upcoming conclave, Benedict's resignation

Papabili who just missed the cut

Beneath the color commentary on the conclave

Round four: conclave of the People of God

What would Christ say if he could see the church today?

Day before papal vote, talk shifts to ritual

Editorial: Time for courage from those who have most to lose

French cardinal says race still wide open

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Arising issues for the theologian in chief

Cardinal Schönborn: It is 'a time of thirst' for the church

A quick course in 'Conclave 101'

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In This Issue

May 10-23, 2013

Latest Posts

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Pope Francis officially de-emphasizes papal titles

Interfaith group stresses faith's role in climate politics

In Canada, rethinking the parish model

The fog of racism still clouds American society

Papa Francesco on Salt & Inculturation

Francis' latest powerful words reflect themes of his papacy

Will the Public Forgive Weiner?

Ramos on Desire

"Europe si, Acton no"

Conclave 2013

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