When a pope is named, they take on a new papal name that replaces their secular name. Francis was the first Francis. The most common papal name is John, followed by Benedict and Gregory.

March 13, 2025, marks Francis' 12th anniversary as pope. He holds the ninth longest papacy of the past 200 years.

Prevost is one of 137 special bishops able to vote to elect a new pope. And Cardinal Wilton Gregory, 77, the socially progressive archbishop of Washington, D.C., until retiring in January ...

But he’s on track to equal or surpass Pope Gregory XII, perhaps best known for being the most recent pope to resign until Pope Benedict XVI did so in 2013. Gregory was 88 when he stepped down in ...

Chicago-born Wilton Gregory was appointed the first African American cardinal in 2020 by Pope Francis. Until his January retirement, Cardinal Gregory was archbishop of Washington, D.C. Gregory ...

Pope Francis has approved a new three-year reform process for the Catholic Church, sending a strong signal he plans to continue in the post despite spending a month in hospital battling pneumonia ...

Pope Francis is spending his 28th consecutive day in the hospital. LONDON and ROME -- Pope Francis is spending his 28th consecutive day in the hospital on the 12th anniversary of when he was ...

It goes without saying that it's a big deal when a pope dies, but procedurally? It's an ever bigger deal for the Catholic church. Pope Francis — who, thankfully, is still alive! — actually ...

But he's on track to equal or surpass Pope Gregory XII, perhaps best known for being the most recent pope to resign until Pope Benedict XVI did so in 2013. Gregory was 88 when he stepped ...