VATICAN CITY — The death of a pope starts a centuries-old ritual involving sacred oaths by the cardinals electing a successor, the piercing of ballots with a needle and thread after they’re counted, ...

The Vatican has updated the liturgical book regulating the funeral rite of popes, simplifying some of the rituals at Pope Francis’ request. The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis ...

Pope Francis' funeral rites, like those for any pope or any Christian, are meant to "reinforce the hope and witness to the faith" that those who have been baptized in Christ "will rise with him to new ...

ANALYSIS: The revisions reflect Francis’ desire to simplify the rites and, in some instances, to dispense with centuries-old traditions whose ancient roots had become difficult even for Vatican ...

The Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, presided over a private rite on Friday evening to seal the ...

A 20-foot, 800-pound cross that has traveled to almost 50 European capitals, known as the “Cross of Gratitude,” has recently been welcomed by a Ukrainian Greek Catholic church in Shenandoah, ...