(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.

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 ...

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) ...

Again, simony was first declared a sin in the year 300 C.E. The MAGA attempt to ratf-ck the Conclave was child’s play in comparison with what has besieged the Curia during earlier centuries.

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.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.