May
‘A very poor Catholic’: Our man in Rome coy on his conversion
Six months ago, Keith Pitt was a Nats MP, giving Anthony Albanese a hard time across the aisle. Now, as Vatican ambassador, he’s just welcomed the PM to Rome.
A sensitive White House subject: Where is Melania?
The first lady has spent fewer than 14 days at the White House since her husband was inaugurated 108 days ago.
Pope Leo’s Australian friend on a revolution in the Vatican
Father Tony Banks has known Bob Prevost for 44 years – including four trips to Australia – and thinks his friend will “take a serious look at the role of women in the church”.
First American pope urges church to ‘build bridges’
Cardinal Robert Prevost, elected the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.
‘They picked a good man’: The humble pope who took on Vance
Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was elected the new head of the Catholic Church, shares Pope Francis’ commitment to helping the poor and migrants.
Why Pope Leo XIV shouldn’t be a media star like Pope Francis
If he must speak out – after all, it’s in his job description – I’d also like him to speak out about the things on which late pontiff was largely silent.
Black smoke: No pope elected on cardinals’ first vote
Some cardinals said they’d hope to have a decision this week, but no pontiff has been elected on the first day of a conclave for centuries.
What ‘Conclave’ gets right, and wrong, about papal politics
How accurate is the Oscar-winning movie’s depiction of the vote for a new pope? Very. But not fully.
Trump posts image of himself as Pope
The idea of ‘Pope Trump’, as some called it, was immediately polarising. Some Catholics did not see the humour in it.
Nazi gold, organised crime: New pope faces unholy financial crisis
The late pontiff sought to battle corruption, but his successor faces a steep challenge in balancing the books.
April
Cardinal convicted over London property scandal drops out of conclave
Angelo Becciu, 76, withdrew from the secretive Vatican meeting after reportedly being shown requests signed by the late Pope Francis saying he should not vote.
Trump turns on Putin after Vatican meeting with Zelensky
The president’s comments come after he met Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky at the pope’s funeral in that was described as a “very productive discussion”.
MAGA Catholics move to take back control of the church
A growing number of Americans hope that Pope Francis’ death will mark a decisive conservative shift for the papacy.
Inside the biblical mess unravelling at ACU
Seven senior NSW legal and political figures wrote a 20-page letter to the regulator alleging a catalogue of scandals, missteps and questionable decisions at ACU.
Who will attend Pope Francis’ funeral?
Cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday to schedule proceedings, and plan the conclave to elect his successor, as world leaders prepared to pay their respects.
Inside the ultra-secretive conclave to choose a pope
More than 100 cardinals will be locked inside the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to select the next head of the Catholic Church. The process could take days.
Will a ‘young’ Filipino become the next pope?
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, is often mentioned among Catholic Church liberals – but his age may actually count against him.
A pope who gave hope for saving the planet
A pontiff for our times who championed social justice, responded to the climate crisis, and threw the door of the church wide open to the world.
Doctors told him to rest. But the Pope had a message
The pontiff celebrated Easter, received Vice President J.D. Vance, issued a final message and took one last ride in the popemobile.
Pope Francis, promoter of more compassionate church, dies
The first Latin American pope worked to make the Catholic Church more inclusive with a focus on poverty and human suffering.