Habemus papam we 39 ll know who exactly in 40 minutes or so Watch ABC news to hear commentary from our own James Martin S J Here is the story from CNS VATICAN CITY CNS -- To the delighted surprise of many clouds of white smoke poured from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel March

From USA Today ROME shy mdash Finally at least one wait is over The conclave to select the next leader of the world 39 s 1 2 billion Catholics will begin Tuesday Vatican officials said Friday capping a week of meetings among cardinals that created a stir due to leaks and an eventual press bla

What does the future hold for the people of Venezuela following the death of Hugo Chavez As the analysis begins we offer a few pieces from our archives on the challenges facing Venezuela and Latin America in general Here for example is an excerpt from our editorial in 2009 quot The Future with

According to the 1996 constitution Universi Dominici Gregis (“Of the Lord’s Whole Flock”), at the first general congregation, the cardinals are given a copy of the constitution and can raise questions about the meaning and implementation of its rules. The part of the constitution regarding the vacancy of the Apostolic See must also be read aloud. This is 3,500-words of tedious prose or 3,100 words if they drop the chapter on papal funerals. The cardinals must swear an oath on the Gospels to observe the constitution’s rules and to maintain secrecy.

Today marks the relaunch of the Catholic Book Club a literary enterprise originally begun by the editors of America in 1928 In his introduction to the new club Kevin Spinale S J sketches the history and goals of the Catholic Book Club and what it can offer to readers today On Friday March 22

This just in from the Pew Forum on Religion amp Public Life Washington D C ndash As the pontificate of Benedict XVI winds down many American Catholics express a desire for change according to a new survey report by the Pew Research Center For example most Catholics say it would be good if t

America 39 s editors were interviewed widely today about the pope 39 s surprise announcement Here is Father James Martin on CNN and the Colbert Report Our editor Matt Malone S J also appeared on WNBC We will post additional video as it becomes available nbsp The Colbert ReportGet More Col

As we await word from the U.S. bishops' conference on the latest proposed revisions to the contraception mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services, at least one bishop has weighed in. Below is the statement from Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. of Philadelphia.

nbsp This March the Catholic Book Club will take on a new direction as Kevin Spinale S J leads a discussion of the book The Patriarch The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P Kennedy On Friday March 1 Kevin a Jesuit scholastic who teaches English at Boston College will post a sh

From CNN Religiously affiliated organizations will be able to opt out of providing their employees with insurance coverage for contraceptives under updates to an Obama administration mandate that the Department of Health and Human Services is expected to unveil on Friday according to two sources In