Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be the next pope?

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you "enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal." It implies the sacred and secretive process is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christ's Vicar on Earth by the princes ...

Read the announcement of the death of Pope Francis

The text of the announcement of the death of Pope Francis, which was read Monday by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived. Farrell was accompanied by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, Archbishop ...

From Buenos Aires to Rome: Key dates in the life of Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Key events in the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis and died on Monday: Dec. 17, 1936: Jorge Mario Bergoglio is born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eldest of five children to Mario Jose Bergoglio, an accountant from Italy, and Regina María ...