Conclave to select new pope will begin May 7, Vatican announces

VATICAN CITY — The conclave to pick the successor to Pope Francis will begin May 7, the Vatican announced Monday, setting the date of the secretive rite inside the Sistine Chapel at a time when intrigues surrounding the election have already begun to emerge. Here are key moments from the ceremony honoring Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on April 26. “There’s nobody like Pope Francis in the College of Cardinals,” he said. “Shocking: Cardinal Tagle Sings John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ — A Betrayal of Catholic Teaching?” the conservative U.S. outlet LifeSite News posted on X. Vatican officials confirmed that cardinals have discussed Becciu’s case, but said they have reached no final decision on whether he will be permitted to participate.