Canon law does not give much specific direction about who can make decisions for the church during the interregnum.

Cardinal Becciu issued a statement the morning of April 29 saying, “I have decided to obey—as I have always done—the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave, while remaining convinced of my innocence.”

As Pope Francis’ legacy is debated in the coming weeks, one key area for examination will be his advancements of women in the Vatican, whether his changes were sufficient and whether they will last.

A Reflection for Wednesday of Holy Week, by Colleen Dulle

A Reflection for Thursday of the Second Week of Lent, by Colleen Dulle

Just as Popes John Paul II’s and Benedict’s final days revealed their understandings of the papacy, Francis’ illness has revealed him once again as the world’s parish priest, suffering close to his people.

A Reflection for Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, by Colleen Dulle

A timeline of the Vatican’s decade-long history of leadership in the field of A.I. ethics—a history that has earned it significant influence among tech leaders, particularly at Microsoft and IBM

On Jan. 25, Pope Francis said that the Catholic Church was open to accepting a common date for Easter “that everyone wants.” While the pope’s call may seem groundbreaking, it actually goes back to the Second Vatican Council.

A Reflection for the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church, by Colleen Dulle