“In response to this reality, Pope Francis has set the theme of the Holy Year of 2025 as ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ and called on the Church to be a witness to the hope in Christ to the world by walking together and helping each other. A synodal Church is a missionary Church that bears witness to the hope of Christ,” Kikuchi explained.

The first ever cardinal of Roman Catholic-majority East Timor had barely had time to process the news of Pope Francis' death when he received the summons to attend the conclave that will elect the new pontiff half a world away in the Vatican.

We're talking about a country that has political, economic, military power in the world, and so I think it's, it's a stretch to say that it's prudent to go ahead and have someone who is from that country,

In the hours after Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday a surprising name began to circulate as a potential successor, sparking fevered speculation in conservative social media circles.

Following Pope Francis' death, conservatives are championing Cardinal Robert Sarah, a critic of Pope Francis, as their top choice.