# Conclave

All time

Top readers' comments of the week

Here’s our round-up of the best, the most popular and the most commented on pieces from the past week. Did you make it in?

5.4k

Mar 16th 2013, 11:00 AM

# White Smoke

Tears, cheers and prayers as the Vatican reveals new pope

IN PICTURES: Twenty reactions to the election of the New World’s first pope.

6.1k

Mar 14th 2013, 12:07 PM

# pope rala

'Rugby people of Ireland' - Rala O'Reilly fails in late bid to land Pope job

He would’ve had our vote.

1.6k

Mar 14th 2013, 8:34 AM

# pope francis

FRONT PAGES: Pope Francis dominates the new and old worlds' newspapers

It was a rare newspaper today that did not run images from the Vatican on its front page. Here’s a round up.

8.1k

Mar 14th 2013, 8:18 AM

# Waiting Game

That was quick - but how long have papal conclaves lasted in the past?

The speedy election of this new pope was not a break from tradition…

10.2k

Mar 14th 2013, 7:15 AM

# pope francis

Jorge Bergoglio's first words as Pope Francis

Here is the 76-year-old’s first speech in full.

18.9k

145

Mar 13th 2013, 10:47 PM

# Papal Conclave

Why do Catholic cardinals wear scarlet for the conclave?

Blood and a willingness to die for their faith as a literal part of the “body” of the Church, apparently.

16.5k

Mar 13th 2013, 7:30 PM

# White Smoke

LIVE: White smoke emerges from Sistine Chapel as new pope is elected

Cardinals in conclave at the Vatican have elected a new pope, whose identity will be revealed in a few moments.

30.6k

181

Mar 13th 2013, 6:08 PM

# Chimney Cam

WATCH: Live video from the Vatican as Catholics await a new Pope

If there’s white smoke, you’ll see it here. (If there’s black smoke, you’ll see that here too.)

9.7k

Mar 13th 2013, 4:32 PM

# how hard can it be ted?

The Dougal for Pope campaign is gathering momentum...

…as Dougal himself speaks out.

13.2k

Mar 13th 2013, 12:30 PM

# Conclave

Cardinals prepare for second day of conclave to elect new pope

There will be four ballots today – two in the morning and two in the afternoon – to try and choose a new pontiff.

4.2k

Mar 13th 2013, 9:06 AM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Good morning. Here are the nine stories you need to know as you start your day.

8.9k

Mar 13th 2013, 8:45 AM

# need to know

The Evening Fix… now with added missing engagement ring

Here are all the things we learned, loved and shared today.

13.7k

Mar 12th 2013, 7:59 PM

# il papa

PHOTOS: Day 1 of the Vatican conclave to elect the next Pope

The 115 cardinals under 80 were locked into the Sistine Chapel this afternoon to begin the process of choosing the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

8.5k

Mar 12th 2013, 7:00 PM

Evening Wrap

The 5 at 5 5 minutes, 5 stories, 5 o’clock…

6.2k

Mar 12th 2013, 4:45 PM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Good morning. Here are the nine stories you need to know as you start your day.

10.3k

Mar 12th 2013, 8:45 AM

# Conclave

Centuries-old rituals to be carried out as conclave begins

Cardinals will be sworn in with a solemn oath that threatens anyone who reveals the deliberations of the conclave with instant excommunication.

7.2k

Mar 12th 2013, 8:36 AM

# Habemus papam

Infographic: How is the new Pope elected?

This handy graphic from the Catholic News Agency explains all…

11.0k

Mar 11th 2013, 7:18 PM

# pre-conclave

Frontrunners emerge in last day of pre-conclave talks

One of the cardinals in contention, Timothy Dolan, told an interviewer that anyone mentioning him as a candidate must be “smoking marijuana”.

9.1k

Mar 11th 2013, 1:45 PM

# Conclave

Conclave to elect next pope will begin on Tuesday

Cardinals have chosen to bring their behind-closed-doors conclave forward by three days.

6.5k

Mar 8th 2013, 4:48 PM

# Veil of Secrecy

'Leaks' prompt US Cardinals to call off pre-conclave press conferences

Italian newspaper reports – including comments made by some cardinals about others – have prompted a media clampdown.

6.8k

Mar 6th 2013, 3:19 PM

# Your Say

Poll: Do you think the next Pope can help reinvigorate the Catholic Church?

March should see a new leader to the world’s estimated 1.2 billion Catholics, but can he make a difference?

6.6k

112

Mar 4th 2013, 9:15 AM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Good morning! Here’s what you need to know as you kick off your Monday.

8.7k

Mar 4th 2013, 8:41 AM

Voices

Opinion: So much has come out to show the Vatican is dysfunctional

As we await the election of a new pope, Fr Tony Flannery believes that it is being increasingly accepted that the Vatican is in urgent need of reform.

Mar 4th 2013, 8:00 AM